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NEWS: NCAA 800m Record Holder & Kenyan Olympian, Michael Saruni, Banned For Four Years By Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) For Evasion of Testing & Sample Collection





The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, also known as ADAK, has published a full report on the "Rulings" page of their website detailing the four-year ban of Kenyan middle distance star, Michael Saruni. The report was first noted by Emily Evans on Twitter/X and further highlighted by LetsRun's Jon Gault earlier today.



It should be noted that there is currently no known documentation, acknowledgement, ruling, etc. made by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in regards to Saruni.


Michael Saruni, who was at one point sponsored by Adidas, is alleged to have evaded ADAK officials at the 2022 Athletics Kenya Trials for World Champions and Commonwealth Games. In the 26-page report, Saruni is alleged to have orchestrated a scenario of misidentification which involved running into a bathroom and having a friend of his pose as himself.



The report also notes that...

"[Saruni's] position has simply been; “it wasn’t me”, “I was not notified”, “I was not anywhere near the DCS”, “It was Dennis my look alike.”

Michael Saruni was, at one point, one of the top middle distance runners in the world, qualifying for the 2021 Olympic Games over 800 meters and making it to the semi-finals. He is also one of the greatest middle distance runners to ever touch a track at the NCAA level.


The former UTEP standout became the fastest collegiate 800-meter runner in NCAA history (among in-season performances) with a jaw-dropping personal best of 1:43.25 in the spring of 2018. He also holds the NCAA record for the indoor 600 meters with a time of 1:14.79.


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