In December 2017 the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Violah Jepchumba after her A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Recombinant Erythropoietin (rhEPO). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and she was heard for the Disciplinary Tribunal.
The Athlete denied that the violation was intentional and she could not explain how the substance entered her system. She indicated that it could be due to a change in diet and/or supplements and/or the altitude at which she trained.
The Sole Arbitrator holds that the Athlete repeatedly failed to comply with deadlines or engage with the case. The Arbitrator concludes that the test results establish the presence of a prohibited substance in her samples and accordingly that she committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Arbitrator finds that the Athlete failed to provide any explanation for the presence of the prohibited substance in her system and neither did she demonstrate that the violation was not intentional.
Therefore the Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 10 July 2018 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 30 September 2017.
