Norah Jeruto, the 2022 World 3000m steeplechase champion, has been vindicated of doping charges following a lengthy and complex legal battle.
In April of this year, Jeruto found herself embroiled in a doping scandal that threatened her career and reputation. However, she has been cleared of all allegations after a thorough investigation and expert testimony.
Jeruto, who originally hails from Kenya, was unable to defend her title at the World Championships held in August due to doping charges.
The charges were brought against her based on unusual blood test results.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) initiated the case, accusing Jeruto of engaging in a banned “transfusion strategy” using her own blood, as well as using the prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO).
The heart of the dispute revolved around blood samples taken from Jeruto in 2020 and 2021, which the AIU claimed were indicative of doping.
They argued that her blood profile suggested blood extraction and reinfusion, a practice often employed to enhance an athlete’s performance. The AIU also contended that some of her blood samples from late 2020 were consistent with EPO use.
Jeruto, in her defense, attributed her unusual blood test results to a painful medical condition – recurring ulcers in her digestive system.
She explained that these ulcers would flare up during times of stress, leading to internal bleeding. Her medical expert testified that these ulcers could account for the changes in her blood samples and that there was no evidence of blood transfusions.
Additionally, Jeruto’s defense argued that her blood samples from late 2020 could be explained by her contracting COVID-19, a disease that ravaged the world at that time.
The tribunal found this explanation plausible and deemed it sufficient to raise “sufficient doubt on this part of the case that it would be unfair to convict (Jeruto).”
The AIU’s case against Jeruto underscores the complexities of doping cases, especially in the realm of distance running.
It also sheds light on the challenges of determining doping through the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), which relies on longitudinal blood data to detect anomalies.
The tribunal noted that few cases are as intricate as Jeruto’s, involving disputes among reputable experts regarding the scientific evidence.
Norah Jeruto’s journey to vindication was marked by hardship and uncertainty.
She began representing Kazakhstan in 2022 after a nationality switch, as she had missed the Tokyo Olympics while awaiting the transition’s completion.
At the 2022 World Championships, Jeruto made history, running the third-fastest time ever recorded in the women’s 3000m steeplechase event.
Prior to her switch to Kazakhstan, Jeruto had been a dominant force in steeplechase running, ranking as the world’s second-fastest steeplechaser in 2018 and the fourth-fastest in 2019.
As Jeruto returns to the track, her triumph over adversity serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances involved in doping cases and the critical role that expert testimony and scientific evidence play in ensuring a just outcome in such cases.
The Athletics Integrity Unit has indicated that it will review the decision before deciding whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving the door slightly ajar for further legal proceedings.
