Celebrated Kenya’s athlete, Asbel Kiprop remains apprehensive even as the clocks are ticking on the release of his doping culpability or otherwise.
Thursday, the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal will expose its findings to the whole world on whether the three-time 1500m world champion will remain on the track or lose his capacity.
Kiprop, who is currently in London, remains upbeat that he will pass the test, and that his career will continue even after the medical report.
Kiprop, who is also the 2008 Beijing Olympics 1500m champion, was tentatively suspended by International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) in May last year for having tested positive to EPO, a blood boosting banned substance in an out-of-competition test.
The tests were conducted in November 2017 at Kiprop’s home in Iten.
“I have never used EPO or any other performance enhancing drugs. I have always competed clean and led from the front in campaigns against doping in sports,” said Kiprop.
Even though IAAF allowed Kiprop to continue training early this year, an indication that he may be cleared, he has not been allowed to compete.
Kiprop launched his defence through lawyer Katwa Kigen where the determination of his case has been postponed thrice and the verdict will be known on Thursday.
Kiprop claimed foul play and accused the Doping Control Officials (DCOs), Simon Mburu and Paul Scott, of trying to solicit for money from him.
The AIU also moved to suspend the DCOs.
Kiprop, the third-fastest man in history over 1,500 metres, was world champion in 2011, 2013 and 2015 and promoted to Olympic gold at the 2008 Games after Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi tested positive for doping.
Kiprop’s is the latest in a long line of doping cases in Kenya, where around 50 athletes have failed tests in recent years, including three-times Boston Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo and Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong.