Kenyan Coach Suspended for Giving Athlete’s Urine Sample

According to the Associated Press, John Anzrah, a Kenyan coach was found in possession of 800m runner Ferguson Rotich’s credential while the latter was supposed to be providing a urine sample for a random drug test. In other words, Anzrah provided his urine in Rotich’s name. The Kenyan Olympic Committee sent the coach home for the incident, but the IOC plans to look into it further. The investigation will involve setting up a disciplinary committee to deal with the incident. The IAAF will ask for a report from that committee and, only at that time, decide whether to impose more sanctions on Anzrah, Rotich, or Kenya.

In a statement, the IOC thanked the Kenyan Olympic Committee for taking swift action in response to the incident.

Rotich is currently the ninth-fastest 800m runner in the world with a 1:44.05 performance at the Kenyan Trials at the start of July, at which meet he beat David Rudisha. He finished fourth at last summer’s World Championships in Beijing and owns a personal best of 1:42.84 from the 2014 Monaco Diamond League Meet.

While this incident certainly draws Rotich’s integrity into question—why would someone else submit a sample in his name if something wasn’t up?—the bigger concern regards Athletics Kenya. In May, WADA declared Athletics Kenya non-compliant with their anti-doping code after they missed two deadlines for submitting a law to establish a national anti-doping agency.

As it currently stands, Rotich is slated to compete in the men’s 800m, which begins Friday morning in Rio.