World champion steeplechaser cleared of doping over claims of ulcers, COVID-19

World champion steeplechase runner Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan has been cleared of doping after arguing that ulcers and a bout of COVID-19 could explain unusual blood test results.

The Kenya-born Jeruto won the 3,000-metre steeplechase title for Kazakhstan at last year's world championships in Eugene, Ore., but couldn't defend it at this year's competition after she was charged with doping in April.

A disciplinary tribunal dismissed the charge and lifted a provisional suspension, leaving Jeruto free to compete at next year's Paris Olympics. The Athletics Integrity Unit, which brought the charge, said Friday it "will review the decision before deciding whether to appeal" to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The argument from the AIU's experts was that a set of samples indicated Jeruto had blood extracted as part of a banned "transfusion strategy." Some athletes have previously sought performance gains by having their own blood extracted and processed before being transfused back into their system. The AIU's case argued that other samples from late 2020 were consistent with Jeruto receiving the banned substance EPO.

Jeruto said she suffers from painful ulcers in her digestive system which flare up when she is stressed and have repeatedly left her hospitalized. An expert testifying on Jeruto's behalf said internal bleeding from those ulcers could explain why some of her samples indicated she had lost blood and that there was no evidence she received any transfusions.

The samples from late 2020 could be explained by the effects of Jeruto contracting COVID-19, rather than using EPO, her defence said. The tribunal said that raised "sufficient doubt on this part of the case that it would be unfair to convict [Jeruto]".

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