Kenyan athlete Agnes Jeruto Barsosio has been banned from competition for five years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for violating the World Anti-Doping Rules. The 40-year-old athletics star was found guilty of using a prohibited substance/method – specifically an ABP case.
Agnes Jeruto Barsosio who is the 2022 Nairobi City Marathon winner was found with inconsistencies in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) following blood tests conducted on her in a nine-year period.
“The AIU has banned Agnes Jeruto Barsosio (Kenya) for 5 years, from September 6, 2023, for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method (ABP case)”, says the statement of the AIU.
AIU further disclosed that Agnes Jeruto Barsosio used a prohibited blood-boosting substance as recorded on the athlete’s biological passport – a mechanism used to pick up on indications of doping in an athlete’s blood system. According to AIU, the athlete admitted the anti-doping rule violation hence the reduction of a year on her ineligibility period.
“The Athlete shall therefore receive a one (1) year reduction in the asserted period of Ineligibility pursuant to Rule 10.8.1 based on an early admission and acceptance of sanction”, adds the AIU.
Worryingly, Agnes Jeruto Barsosio’s doping violation comes just a few months after her sister, Stella Barsosio, convicted also for using banned stimulants. She was banned in February this year for a period of two years by the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency for the presence of the banned substance trimetazidine.
Agnes Jeruto Barsosio continued to appeal her suspension, which was imposed on August 11, 2023. Despite the suspension hanging over her, she bravely participated in the 18th edition of the Brazzaville International Half Marathon on September 13, 2023 in Congo.
