Asbel Kiprop now accuses anti-doping agents of ‘fixing’ him
Former Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop has implicated Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) officials in his first official statement regarding claims that he consumed banned energy boosting substances.
In a lengthy statement prepared by his lawyer Katwa Kigen, the three-time world champion now says two Doping Control Officials approached him last November and solicited for cash.
Kiprop has also raised possibilities that his urine samples might have been tampered with by the ADAK officials.
In a claim that will certainly place the Kenyan officials under more scrutiny, Kiprop has implicated a Simon ‘Mburu’ Karugu and Paul Scott.
He claims the two officers visited his home in Iten on November 27, 2017 and upon collecting his urine sample, requested for some cash.
The athlete says he excused himself and went to his bedroom to collect the cash, leaving them with the samples.
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He resurfaced moments later, but offered to send the cash to them electronically.
“At 8.11am I forwarded them money through Mr Simon Karugu “Mburu”’s phone using (mobile money transaction) M-Pesa. As a police officer I found it wise to send by M-Pesa for record. I did not at the time expect that the request for the money had anything to do with the sample. At that time I did not see the money as inducement or bribe for anything. I gave it in good faith thinking they may have some need known to them. In retrospect I now clearly see the money as having a relation with the sample collected on that date, and even the irregular advance notice I was given. Mr Simon Karugu “Mburu” acknowledged verbally and audibly receiving the M-Pesa money while he was seated next to Mr Paul Scott,” Kiprop said in his statement.
“If I had any dope substance in my system then I would not make myself available for the sampling on 27th November 2017 having been given notice on 26th November 2017 of the intended visit for the sample collection. I could choose to miss the collection without any consequences. Consequences for missing sampling meeting arise only after missing 3 times. I had not missed previously,” he further said.
Kiprop is reported to have tested positive to the banned EPO substance. If the claims are proved, he will become the latest high profile Kenyan athlete to be implicated.