Tag: Doping

AIU bans Kenyan runner Rodgers Kwemoi for suspected blood doping

Kwemoi receives six-year ban.

Following blood doping investigations, The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Kenyan long-distance runner Rodgers Kwemoi for six years. The AIU’s decision cites 18 instances of blood doping between July 18, 2016, and September 27, 2022.

Kwemoi, known for his 10,000-meter runs, is now disqualified from participating in the Olympics. According to the AIU, Kwemoi must also forfeit “any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes, and prize and appearance money” gained since July 18, 2016. This includes Kwemoi’s 2016 world junior title and his 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medal, according to AP News. Kwemoi’s suspension will end on August 7, 2029.

“The Athlete engaged in a deliberate, systematic, and sophisticated doping regime. Such actions would not have been possible without deliberate intent and the assistance of experts,” the AIU’s decision states.

Read the full report here.

On Thursday, the University of Michigan …

On Thursday, the University of Michigan released a study claiming that HGH could aid in the recovery of torn ACLs by preventing the loss of muscle strength in knees. Cuban funded that study, and went on to argue on its behalf on Twitter. “It’s time to recognize that HGH (Human Growth Hormone) can positively impact injury recovery,” Cuban wrote. “I funded this study so that athletes can get back to full strength and doing what they love.”

On an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump …

On an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump Friday, Cuban argued that the only reason HGH is banned by the NBA is because the World Anti-Doping Association banned it. “There really was no research or complete logic for doing it,” Cuban said. “So a couple of years ago, I said, ‘look, if there’s no data there to dismiss HGH, let’s find out if it can help for injury recovery because it’s been discussed as having that ability.’ So I worked with the University of Michigan and we put together a study, and as it turned out, comparing athletes vs. a placebo, there was a significant improvement in their recovery time and getting back to full strength. And so now, this is the first step towards offering data and hopefully the NBA, the Olympics and other leagues will look at this and say ‘let’s do some more studies.’ I’m willing to get involved with more studies financially, but if we can get the leagues to do it, the players I think will all be for it as long as you can prove that it’s safe.”