The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Ugandan star athlete Prisca Chesang over doping violations.
The Integrity Unit revealed that Chesang tested positive for Furosemide, a substance listed as prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Furosemide is known for its potential use by athletes to mask the presence of performance-enhancing drugs in urine or to facilitate rapid weight loss.
A statement from the Athletics Integrity Unit reads, “The AIU has provisionally suspended Prisca Chesang (Uganda) for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Furosemide).” This suspension will remain in effect until a comprehensive investigation and disciplinary process are concluded.
Chesang’s positive test occurred during the 2023 World Road Running Championship in Riga, Latvia, where she finished 18th in the mile competition.
According to AIU, a provisional suspension is when an Athlete or other person is suspended temporarily from participating in any competition or activity in Athletics before a final decision at a hearing conducted under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.
Prisca Chesang, a 20-year-old two-time world U20 bronze medalist in the women’s 5,000m, had been considered a rising star in women’s athletics. However, her suspension will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on her promising career.
Just recently, Chesang represented Uganda at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 5,000m but failed to advance from the heats. Her top senior championship finish was a seventh-place result at the 2023 world cross-country championship in Bathurst, Australia, helping Uganda’s women’s team win bronze.
Chesang’s suspension comes barely three months after her colleague Janat Chemusto, a middle-distance runner was also provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to a doping violation. She had tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-Norandrosterone.
After further investigations, Chemusto was handed a four-year ban for failing to challenge the assertion of Anti-Doping Rule Violations.
Benjamin Njia, the UAF national coach and vice president of technical was hesitant to comment on the matter. “I do not have any comment for now because some other investigations are going on, even our mother’s investigations are going on.” He said
UAF President Dominic Otuchet said that the Federation has done a lot to avoid doping but he was unaware that such could happen.
“There are things we are doing we educate our athletes we have even employed a doctor, Doctor Chebet Martin to do anti-doping seminars, but now when they go out, you don’t know what to do, I have nothing to say about it.” He said
According to article 59 of the 2023 National Sports Act, an athlete who uses, consumes, or has in his or her possession a substance or uses a method of sport banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency commits an offense and shall be subject to the sanctions of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
