In November 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on behalf of World Athletics reported that the Kenyan Athlete Diana Chemtai Kipyokei tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone acetonide.
Following notification the Athlete first explained that she underwent medical treatment for her injury and that her doctor in September 2021 had administered two injections of cortisone. Later she acknowledged that indeed Triamcinolone acetonide was administered.
However the AIU deemed that both her explanations were insufficient to explain the presence of Triamcinolone acetonide in her sample. Also she failed to produce any corroborating evidence in support of her explanations.
Thereupon the Athlete provided to the AIU medical documents from the Uasin Gishu County Hospital about the medical treatment she underwent and the administration of Triamcinolone acetonide. The AIU concluded that the Athlete's explanations and Medical documents did not demonstrate that Triamcinolone had been administered via a permitted route.
In March 2022 the AIU requested the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to verify the medical information the Athlete had produced. As a result in April 2022 the Uasin Gishu County Hospital denied that the Athlete had received any medical treatment in the hospital and determined that her medical documents were falsifications.
Consequently in June 2022 the AIU reported two anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for Presence and Tampering. The AIU ordered a provisional suspension in June 2022 and issued a Notice of Charge in October 2022.
Thereupon the Athlete admitted that she had paid her doctor to produce falsified medical documents. Hereafter she failed to respond to the Notice of Charge within the set deadline. Also she failed to sign and return the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptace of Consequences form within the set deadline.
In view of aggravating circumstances due to the Athlete's attempt to tamper the AIU nevertheless finds that there is no evidence that the her use of the prohibited substance was intentional. Further the AIU deems that her anti-doping rule violations shall be considered together as one single first anti-doping rule violation.
Therefore the AIU decides on 19 December 2022 to impose a 6 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 27 June 2022.
