Athletics Kenya has cleared sprinter Mark Odhiambo Otieno to compete following the elapse of a two-year ban for doping.
Today, the federation in a letter dated August 1, 2023 read: “Following your anti-doping violation, you are now eligible to return to competition and other activities in athletics,” read the letter in part.
“Otieno’s period of ineligibility came to an end on July 31, 2023, having been backdated to July 31, 2021,” the letter added. He was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for Methasterone.
On his part, Oteineo wrote: “With this chapter now behind him, Mark is set to resume active competition on August 1, 2023, with his sights firmly set on winning medals for Kenya in the competitions set for 2024,” the statement read in part.
“Mark extends his heartfelt gratitude to his dear wife, extended family, friends, legal team, and the entire Kenyan fraternity for their unwavering support during his darkest days. He also commends the media fraternity for their responsible reporting despite misinformation and errors.”
Otieno suggested the establishment of a lab in Kenya to test athlete samples and supplements, saying this would save careers from stalling prematurely.
“He proposes the Kenyan government partnering with trusted supplement brands to provide discounted supplements for athletes, a practice already in place in countries like Denmark. Mark’s new mission has become advocating for better practices and reducing unintentional doping in sports,” added the statement.
Otieno was also part of the team that represented Kenya at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the 2017 World Championships in London. The development comes barely a couple of days after the Kenyan sprinter hinted at his return to the track.