The 35-year-old received four years in prison for testing positive for a prohibited substance and an additional four years for interfering with or trying to obstruct the inquiry; however, the sentence was shortened by one year for early admission and acceptance of the punishment.
In July 2022, Cherono was placed on temporary suspension following a positive test result for the cardiac drug trimetazidine .
Since Cherono’s ban is retroactive to his original suspension, he won’t be eligible to compete until 2029.
At first, the former Chicago and Boston marathon winner attributed the positive test result to an injection he had from a doctor to relieve stomach discomfort.
Cherono then altered his account, claiming that his wife’s prescription had been mixed up.
Brett Clothier, the head of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), stated that the suspension “sends a strong signal” to anyone who may be considering breaching the law.
“This ruling is evidence of the AIU’s unwavering and tenacious pursuit of doping investigations and the justifications offered for positive test results,” he continued.
“The AIU will do everything within its power to fulfill its mandate.”
Just before the 2022 Winter Olympics, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for news, leading to a four-year ban earlier this year.
