For the First Time, A Foreign Runner Exposed to Doping

Jakarta, 25 October 2024

On November 12^th, 2023, in Jakarta a run-event was held by a banking institution. As many as 12,600 runners were registered to take part in the international marathon competition in four categories, namely marathon (42K), half marathon (21K), 10K and Fun Run (5K). That event was also held as part of the Jakarta’s 496^th anniversary. In order to support Clean Sport, the Indonesia Anti-Doping Organization (IADO) participated to control any potential doping at that event. The entire doping control process had been conducted smoothly and successfully for collected samples in accordance with the Mission Order. IADO strived to maintain integrity by guaranteeing the confidentiality, security and identity of samples. Several DCOs of IADO (Doping Control Officer) officers immediately collected urine samples from several of the winners.

After that, the samples were immediately sent by IADO to the anti-doping laboratory in Bangkok, and the results were only known on December 26^th, 2023. Based on the laboratory analysis, it was stated that the urine sample of a runner from Kenya Mr. Stephen Mungathia Mugambi, winning as first place with his time of 2 hours, A 21 minutes and 2 seconds, has consisted of the presence of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone, which was found by the laboratory. For information, both of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone are classified in category S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) on the WADA Prohibited Substances List. IADO has also informed the related athlete on March 18^th, 2024, and continued to send its letter of demand on May 27^th, 2024, in which the athlete was given the opportunity to defend / clarify through a hearing process no later than June 10^th, 2024. Prior to the deadline, on June 7^th, 2024, the athlete preferred to accept sanctions from IADO.

IADO obviously could not immediately decide on Mr. Stephen Mungathia Mugambi’s violation, because according to procedures, the IADO was also compulsory to know his medical record. Unfortunately, the successive IADO letters of March 18^th, 2024 and May 27^th,  2024 providing the athlete the opportunity to defend himself / clarify, including to inform IADO whether there was any health problem while participating in the event based on his medical team’s note were not responded properly, it was concluded that he did not have any health problem, which could be known through the application procedure of  TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption). In addition, the athlete did not exercise his right to open and analyze his B sample.  So based on the report of the RM (Results Management) Committee, which is an independent committee at IADO which is obliged to carry out the legal administration process, it was decided as follows:

1. Declaring that the athlete has violated the anti-doping rules as intended in Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code regarding the presence and use of prohibited substances.
2. Imposing suspension / sanction to the athlete to undergo a ban on participation in sporting activities for 4 years.
3. Declaring a period of prohibition against participation in sports activities for the related athlete from September 6^th, 2024 to September 5^th, 2028.
4. Disqualifying the athlete’s competition result from the date of sample collection, namely November 12^th, 2023, until the period of prohibition from participation, namely September 6^th, 2024. All medals, points or prizes obtained during that period are declared revoked.

The samples collection has been carried out a long time ago (November 12^th, 2023), but only on October 5^th, 2024, it was announced openly on the IADO website. The reasons are as follows:

1. The results of sample analysis from the anti-doping laboratory in Bangkok were only known on December 26^th,  2023.
2. While waiting for the administrative process and ensuring that there was no abuse of administration and procedures, IADO notified the athlete on March 18^th, 2024. In the letter, IADO provided a deadline of up to 14 days to submit a clarification / rebuttal.
3. The demand letter from IADO was sent on May 27^th, 2024, in which the athlete was given the opportunity to defend / clarify no later than June 10^th, 2024. Before the deadline expired, on June 7^th, 2024, the athlete preferred to receive the sanction from IADO.
4. In fact, even if there would be any clarification during a hearing, the athlete does not need to come to Indonesia, because it could be held virtually.
5. The decision of the case was finally notified to the related athlete on September 6^th, 2024, whose copies were sent to the International Athletics Federation / World Athletics and PASI, by notifying that the athlete still had the legal right to express opinions such as appeals and so on until the following 21 days. However, until September 28^th, 2024, he did not use his right to object. He only responded via email that he was unhappy to the decision.
6. Prior to announce on the IADO.ID website, according to the World Anti-Doping Code IADO needs to ask for approval from the athlete or federation concerned via a letter, submitted on 5 October 2024. However, the athlete, who used to be usually not difficult to contact, he suddenly became very difficult to contact when asked for approval.  Finally, IADO was assisted by SEARADO (Southeast Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization) has succeeded in contacting Kenya’s NADO, and on October 25^th, 2024, a response through an email was received from ADAK (Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya), that IADO was permitted to publish.

On the basis of the case experienced by the runner from Kenya, IADO appeal to any parties which have been increasingly intensive in organizing international run-events or any international and national sporting events to ensure that the related participants should be strongly recommended to avoid violating the regulations of anti-doping. Even if someone is sick, it is advisable to apply for a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption)  to IADO through their respective doctor, which could be down loaded from the website of IADO.ID. The IADO TUE Committee will  then evaluate whether the application could be approved or not. Such procedures are valid universally, because these are regulated by WADA.

Jakarta, 25 October 2024.

Chairman of IADO,
Gatot S. Dewa Broto