Kenya's top sprinter and 19 other athletes suspended for doping violations

Samuel Imeta and Ferdinand Omanyala at an athletics meet in Kenya

Kenya's top sprinter and 19 other athletes suspended for doping violations

Funmilayo Fameso 17:47 - 03.06.2023

Samuel Imeta and 19 other athletes have been provisionally suspended by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has provisionally suspended Samuel Imeta and 19 other athletes for doping violations.

Imeta tested positive for Anabolic Androgenic Steroids during the second Athletics Kenya meet, where he clocked a surprising 9.94s to finish second behind African champion Ferdinand Omanyala.

Samuel Imeta provisionally suspended by Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya
Samuel Imeta at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Although the World Athletics didn't ratify the times in the race, his performance was an announcement to the world of his potential, and Kenya brewing another sprinter after Omanyala.

Likewise, he was a part of the Kenyan 4x100m quartet that clocked a National Record of 38.26s at the Botswana Grand Prix, which qualified them for the World Championships in Budapest. His suspension now means that performance is rendered null.

As reported by Daily Nation Kenya, the 24-year-old tested positive for banned substances, and others also suspended for various doping violations.

2021 World U20 3000m silver medallist Zenah Jemutai tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone acetonide, while African 800m champion Jarinter Mawia's samples tested positive for several banned substances, including Erythropoietin. 

Others are Hannah Mwangi, Evangeline Makena, Gladys Nthenya, Agnes Mumbua, Stephen Kiplagat, Victor Koskey, Collins Koros, Cynthia Kendi, Eric Kiptoo, Bernard Cheruiyot, Amos Kiprotich, John Kariuki are in the long list of those suspended.  

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