3,000m Steeplechase World Champion Norah Jeruto Suspended for Doping

Kenyan-born Kazakhstani athlete Norah Jeruto has been provisionally suspended for an anti-doping violation.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday that Jeruto has been suspended "for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method (ABP)".

ABP refers to the Athlete’s Biological Passport, which shows discrepancies that can reveal the effects of doping.

The AIU said a notice of the charge has been issued to the 27-year-old distance runner, who changed allegiance from Kenya to Kazakhstan in early 2022.

Jeruto won the 3,000 meters steeplechase gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA last July. She clocked 8:53.02, the third-fastest time in history and a championship record.

Following the victory, the Kazakhstan government paid Jeruto €250,000 (about Sh30.5 million) through its award scheme for excelling athletes.

Jeruto was among four Kenyan-born athletes who switched their international allegiance to Kazakhstan in March 2022. 

She was granted Kazakhstan citizenship alongside Daisy Jepkemei, Shadrack Koech, and Caroline Chepkoech after the World Athletics approved their request to represent the Central Asian country at the international level.

Rule 1.4.2 of the World Athletics Charter states that athletes who gain new citizenship or wish to change their status can do so if three years have passed since they competed for their country.

Jeruto won the Diamond League gold in the 3,000m steeplechase in 2021.