Former steeplechase world champion Norah Jeruto will face a doping case hearing in June, five weeks before the Paris Olympics are set to open. The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear an appeal from World Athletics on June 17 against a ruling made last year that cleared Jeruto of suspected blood doping. The 2022 world champion had argued that ulcers and a bout of COVID-19 could explain her irregular blood test results from 2020 and 2021, despite not testing positive for any banned substances.
Jeruto, who is originally from Kenya, won gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase when she competed for Kazakhstan at the worlds in Eugene, Oregon. However, she was unable to defend her title last year as she was suspended during an investigation. The Athletics Integrity Unit alleged that Jeruto was involved in banned blood transfusions and had taken the endurance-boosting hormone EPO. An independent tribunal examining the case found that her COVID-19 infection in late 2020 raised doubts, making it unfair to convict her. Additionally, it was noted that her ulcers could have explained certain blood-related findings, and there was no evidence of her receiving transfusions.
Jeruto, who also represented Kenya and went on to become an African champion and win the Diamond League circuit in 2021, missed competing in the Tokyo Olympics that same year while her change of allegiance to Kazakhstan was being processed. The outcome of her upcoming doping case hearing will likely be determined prior to the women’s steeplechase event at the Paris Olympics, scheduled for August 6-8 at Stade de France.