NAIROBI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's athletics officials are mooting at the idea of imposing a life suspension on Olympic marathon women's champion Jemima Sumgong after the expiry of her official four-year ban.
Speaking in Nyahururu, Jackson Tuwei, the Athletics Kenya (AK) president said there will be no remorse to any athlete found doping and they will do whatever they can to lock cheats forever from the sport.
"Any athlete who test positive to any kind of doping will face World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), wrath and punishment. But after the expiry of that time we will never allow them to represent Kenya in any event," said Tuwei.
This means that should Kenya ban Sumgong for life, she will be ineligible to compete anywhere after her four-year ban.
"Events like Commonwealth Games, World Championships, IAAF Diamond League and even competitions will be out of bound for such athletes. They are cheats tainting Kenya's image and we must send a strong message. Our aim is to protect clean athletes and lock away cheats forever," he said.
Sumgong, who became the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic marathon gold at the Rio Summer Games in Brazil last year, was officially banned on Oct. 31 for testing positive to performance enhancement drugs EPO in an out of competition test done by the IAAF.
Her ban was backdated to April 3. It means she will not be able to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Sumgong said she took the drug after losing her pregnancy, but could not provide evidence of doctors' prescription to Kenya's Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK).
