In April 2019 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics (WA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Sammy Kitwara after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Terbutaline. After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right to be heard and accepted the sanction proposed by WA.
In his submissions the Athlete explained with medical information that in March 2019 he underwent medical treatment for his pneumonia in a clinic in Kenya and he had used prescribed Broxol syrup that contained the prohibited substance as ingredient.
the AIU finds that the Athlete had provided sufficient evidence, accepts that the violation was not intentional and that the Athlete demonstrated how the prohibited substance entered his system through the ingestion of his prescribed Broxol syrup medication. Further the AIU holds that the Athlete failed to read or to check the ingredients on the label of his medication before using although he was suffering from a serious medical condition and he consulted a qualified docktor.
Considering the Athlete’s conduct in this case the AIU deems that the Athlete’s subjective fault to be at the ‘high’ end of the ‘normal’ category.
Therefore the AIU decides on 20 December 2019 to impose a 16 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 17 March 2019.
