In July 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on behalf of World Athletics reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Purity Cherotich Rionoripo after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Furosemide.
After notification the Athlete accepted the test result and explained with evidence that she had used prescribed medication and Furosemide as treatment for her injury. Thereupon the AIU requested the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to verify the medical information the Athlete had produced.
Hereafter the Kenyan Hospital confirmed that the Athlete indeed underwent medical treatment for her injury in May 2022. However the Hospital denied that Lasix (Furosemide) had been prescribed and determined that the Athlete's prescription for Lasix was a falsification.
Consequently in November 2022 the AIU reported a second anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for Tampering due to the falsified documents she had provided to the AIU.
Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. Further she signed and returned to the AIU the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.
Despite the Athlete had attempted to tamper with any part of the doping control process the AIU finds that the Athlete's use of Lasix was not intentional. Yet the AIU deems that there are no grounds to reduce the sanction for Tampering.
The AIU considers that both violations shall be treated as standalone first violations and that the 4 year period of ineligibility for Tampering must be served consecutively to the 2 year period of ineligibility for Presence. Because the Athlete had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.
Therefore the AIU decides on 19 December 2022 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 November 2022.
