The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has been successful in its appeal to double a four year ban issued to Rio 2016 Marathon winner, Jemima(h) Sumgong, for tampering with a doping control. A Sport Resolutions Decision (PDF below) found that Sumgong had faked documents relating to treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) for an ectopic pregnancy.

Sumgong was sanctioned with a four year ban in November 2017 after she returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for EPO, but the Kenyan Sports Disputes Tribunal had detailed evidence that medical documents were faked regarding her alleged receipt of EPO as part of treatment for an ectopic pregnancy. ‘We might go as far as to state that the Athlete’s attempt to explain how the substance entered her body bordered on an attempt to deceive the Panel in view of the Hospital’s denial that the Athlete attended the Hospital for any treatment whatsoever’, reads the decision (PDF below).

The Sports Integrity Initiative revealed that the IAAF was appealing to extend Sumgong’s ban in July last year. The Sport Resolutions Decision reveals that Sumgong’s ban will run from 17 January 2019, the date of the decision. She will therefore be ineligible to compete until 17 January 2027.