Nairobi — Suspended Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno has spoken for the primary time since he was suspended minutes earlier than making his Olympic Video games debut in Tokyo over an alleged constructive medicine check in his pattern.
Otieno was set to make his Olympics debut after incomes the qualification mark alongside Ferdinand Omanyala on the Kenyan trials in Nairobi, however as he ready for the heats, he received the heartbreaking information.
Based on the outcomes from his urine pattern taken two days earlier than the race, Otieno examined constructive for an anabolic androgenic steroid and was subsequently barred from stepping on the tartan for the 100m heats.
Immediately, the Kenyan sprinter, a earlier holder of the Kenyan 100m report acknowledged his innocence, noting that he would by no means be dissuaded to make use of efficiency enhancing medicine.
The Athletics Integrity Unit began the disciplinary course of towards him. And now, Otieno has spoken out for the primary time since July, saying that his constructive check was as a consequence of a contaminated complement.
“A few months in the past, I obtained outcomes from a WADA-accredited lab confirming my suspicions one of many dietary complement that I had been utilizing was contaminated with an undisclosed banned substance that led to my constructive check on the Tokyo Olympics. This end result proves past doubt that I didn’t dope, as I’ve insisted from the start,” Otieno stated in an announcement posted on his social media accounts.
He added; “I’ve at present made that info public. The final many months have been torturous, however I’ve stayed dedicated to the disciplinary course of I used to be put underneath, whilst I proceed to pursue the avenues to clear my title. I’m grateful to have obtained this vindication.”
Otieno who has since resumed coaching now hopes that the related authorities can hear out his case and have his suspension lifted to permit him return to aggressive motion.
He added that the allegations have triggered him large private loss and hopes that his title can be cleared in due time.
“I’ve written Petitions to the President, the Cupboard & Parliament outlining my expertise and requesting that legislative and coverage measures are put in place to raised shield younger and new athletes from falling prey to the identical scenario,” he stated.
