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The Kenyan sprinter has lofty dreams as he returns to athletics following his two-year suspension.
Former 100m and 200m national champion Mark Otieno intends to win medals for Kenya next year, including at the Paris Olympics, following the conclusion of his two-year doping ban.
Otieno is eligible to compete again having been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to the presence of prohibited substance Methasterone in his system just ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021.
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At the time, Otieno proved his case that he had no intentions to cheat but consumed contaminated supplements due to bad manufacturing practices, leading to a positive drug test result. He has now put all that behind him and is targeting a return to the track with glory in his sights come 2024.
“With this chapter now behind him, Mark is set to resume active competition on August 1, 2023, with his sights firmly set on winning medals for Kenya in the competitions set for 2024,” Otieno said through a statement sent to the media by his communications team.
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Repentant sprinter Mark Otieno praises God hours to the end of his doping ban
The 30-year-old has been out for two years but will be eligible to compete again starting Tuesday, August 1
“Mark extends his heartfelt gratitude to his dear wife, extended family, friends, legal team, and the entire Kenyan fraternity for their unwavering support during his darkest days. He also commends the media fraternity for their responsible reporting despite misinformation and errors.”
Having been a victim of circumstances, the sprinter has emphasised the urgent need for laboratories in Kenya to test athlete samples and supplements locally to avoid other runners having their careers stalled or ended prematurely.
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Kipsang noted that working together will see Team Kenya take a 1-2-3 podium sweep.
“He proposes the Kenyan government partnering with trusted supplement brands to provide discounted supplements for athletes, a practice already in place in countries like Denmark. Mark's new mission has become advocating for better practices and reducing unintentional doping in sports,” added the statement.
“He aims to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth, The Arts, and Sports, as well as other relevant institutions, to share his experiences and findings, fostering positive changes and creating a safer sporting environment for all athletes.”
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Her main focus at the moment is to successfully defend her world title when she heads to Budapest later this month.
Otieno was one of Kenya’s most promising sprinters before the rise of Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala. Prior to his ban, he had represented the country at the 2017, 2019, and 2021 World Relays.
He was also part of the team that represented Kenya at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the 2017 World Championships in London.
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Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala and two-time world champion Asbel Kiprop are among the athletes.
The 30-year-old was also part of Team Kenya at the 2015 All Africa Games and the 2016 and 2019 African Championships.
Otieno will now be targeting to get into Team Kenya for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
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