In October 2021 and in February 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on behalf of World Athletics has reported anti-doping rule violations against the Kenyan Athlete Tabitha Gichia Wambui after her samples - collected in September and in October 2021 - tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (Nandrolone).
After notification in October 2021 of the first anti-doping rule violation the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.
The Athlete explained with evidence that she underwent medical treatment in September 2021, yet the AIU concluded that the used medication could not explain the presence of Nandrolone in her system.
Hereafter the Athlete revoked the Acceptance Form and filed additional medical evidence in her defence. She alleged that she underwent medical treatment in a Kenyan hospital in February, April and May 2021 and because of her condition that prescribed Nandrolone had been administered.
The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) conducted an investigation into the filed evidence and established that the Athlete had not received any medical treatment in the Kenyan hospital whereas the filed medical evidence was not issued nor certified by the hospital.
Consequently in June 2022 the AIU reported an new anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for Tampering because of the falsification of medical information. Again the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU.
The AIU finds that the Athlete had failed to demonstrate the violations were not intentional and deems that the two anti-doping rule violations for presence must be considered as one single violation. Aditionally the AIU finds that the Athlete had committed a second anti-doping rule violation for tampering during the Doping Control process.
Because the Athlete signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU. The Athlete must serve the imposed period of ineligibility consecutively.
Therefore the AIU decides on 11 July 2022 to impose a 7 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 20 October 2022.
