AIU strikes at Kenyan athlete attending World Athletics courses while serving a doping ban

ATHLETICS: AIU strikes at Kenyan athlete attending World Athletics courses while serving a doping ban

Abigael Wafula 11:15 - 04.08.2023

Mwangi was banned for three years starting June 23, 2022, and is intended to return to competition on June 22, 2025.

The Athletics Integrity Unit has responded to the case of Joel Maina Mwangi who has participated in two online courses on the World Athletics’ Education Hub (an e-learning platform) in April and May 2023 while serving his doping ban.

Mwangi was banned for three years starting June 23, 2022, and is intended to return to competition on June 22, 2025. AIU noted that he was not supposed to attend the courses since he is not eligible to get any services from World Athletics at the moment.

AIU noted that in the event that an athlete or any other person either admits the violation and accepts the proposed Consequences or is deemed to have admitted the violation and accepted the consequences, they will issue: “A decision confirming the commission of the violation(s) and the imposition of the specified Consequences (including, if applicable, a justification for why the maximum potential sanction was not imposed);

(b) Publicly Report that decision in accordance with Rule 14; (c) send a copy of the decision to the Athlete or other Person and to any other party that has a right, further to Rule 13, to appeal the decision (and any such party may, within 15 days of receipt, request a copy of the full case file pertaining to the decision).

They added that: “No Athlete or other Person who has been declared Ineligible or is subject to a Provisional Suspension may, during a period of Ineligibility or Provisional Suspension, participate in any capacity in a Competition or activity (other than authorised anti-doping Education or rehabilitation programs).

On May 15 this year, the AIU informed Mwangi that it had recently received information concerning his participation in, and completion of, online courses organized by World Athletics through the World Athletics’ Education Hub (World Athletics’ e-Learning platform.

A statement released by AIU said: “The AIU also reminded the Athlete, without prejudice to any action that it may take based on his apparent participation in the Courses, that he should refrain from participating during his period of Ineligibility in any capacity in an activity organised by World Athletics or a Member Federation.

On the same day, Mwangi responded to the AIU apologizing for his mistake, and noted that he was only interested in learning and had been seeking to better himself by completing certain education programmes whilst he was unable to compete in the sport.

He added that he was not aware the Courses would be prohibited because they were being organised by World Athletics online and did not involve attendance from him in person.

Taking into consideration the Athlete’s degree of Fault and the overall circumstances of the case, including the fact that the Athlete admitted the breach immediately upon notification, the AIU considered a reprimand and no additional period of Ineligibility to be the appropriate Consequences for the Athlete’s violation,” the AIU said.

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