Former marathon world number one Lawrence Cherono has been banned for seven years after admitting three anti-doping rule violations.
The verdict was announced to the Kenyan on Wednesday by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
In May 2022, Cherono tested positive for the heart drug trimetazidine and was provisionally suspended on July 16 of the same year. The current suspension takes effect from that date.
According to the AIU, the two-time winner of major marathons and 12th fastest marathon runner of all time initially stated that a doctor had accidentally given him an antibiotic and an injection containing an unknown substance to treat stomach problems.
He then accused his training colleagues of being “jealous of his success” and responsible for the positive test.
However, in a later written statement, Cherono stated that his wife had inadvertently given him trimetazidine in the form of carvidone tablets to treat his muscle pain – instead of the painkillers he had requested.
Cherono presented documents proving that his wife had been prescribed trimetazidine, but investigations revealed “several inconsistencies” before Cherono admitted the allegations and accepted the ban.
Cherono won the prestigious Boston and Chicago Marathons in 2019.