Banned Kenyan star Manangoi owns up to doping offence

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NAIROBI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan middle distance star and 2017 men's 1,500m world champion Elijah Manangoi on Saturday apologized after being banned for two years for doping violations related to missed tests.

Manangoi accepted the verdict delivered by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday promising to 'be back on track and win right.'

"It's my mistake. I have received the verdict from AIU and as I sit here, I have acknowledged that I made a mistake on my whereabouts failures and I have accepted their decisions, though it will be difficult to forgive myself," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Manangoi was sanctioned for missing three tests between July 3, 2019 and Dec. 22, 2019 and AIU confirmed he had waived his right of appeal in a Disciplinary Tribunal to the charges leveled against him.

"I'm sorry for disappointing my country, Athletics Kenya, my management, my coach and all whom I have betrayed their trust," said the Beijing 2015 World Championships silver medalist.

The 30-year-old training partner of reigning men 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot warned fellow runners to be wary of violating the whereabouts rules, the recent cause of a raft of bans affecting Kenyan athletes.

"I would like to urge my fellow athletes both in Kenya and abroad to seriously take care of their own whereabouts to avoid unnecessary sanctions, it seems simple but a slight mistake can be costly at the end.

"It's shameful. I'm a clean athlete and I will be back on track and win right," the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold winner added.

The news of Manangoi's ban was another blot to the reputation of Kenyan athletics that has been struggling to rid itself from the doping dragnet, but he becomes the first reputable distance runner from the country to publicly own up to charges.

"A lesson learned after a mistake. Sorry and I know your message of acceptance will educate many athletes all over the world. We need such people like you to stand and educate others to avoid such minor mistakes in future," former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau Musyoki said on Saturday.

Manangoi is the latest Kenyan reputable runner to be sanctioned in recent years, in a line-up that includes Beijing 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong.

Earlier this year, London 2012 Olympic bronze winner and world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang was banned for four years for whereabouts rules violations and trying to cover up for the missed appointments with doping control officers. Enditem

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