Eritrean athlete stripped of titles, banned after failing doping test

Eritrean world distance mountain runner and champion Petro Mamu has been banned for nine months and stripped of his titles after testing positive for doping after two world championships he won in July in Premana, Italy.

Mamu tested positive for a substance used as medication for Asthma. His ban started September 19 while all results and titles won from July 30, 2017 have been cancelled, the IAAF announced in September.

The nine-month ban was reduced from two years for his admission of guilt and co-operating with the IAAF, they added.

The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) said in a statement that the sentence is not enough as he stands to participate in next year’s championship.

“It is the feeling of the WMRA, that while we appreciate Mamu’s cooperation regarding this case, the sentence does not act as enough of a deterrent. As the ban now stands, Mamu will be eligible to compete at the World Championships and World Cup in 2018,” they said.

The WMRA said it will organise a new medal ceremony in Poland in June next year for the medalists excluding Mamu.

“The World Cup standings will also be updated to exclude Mamu from the results and an updated ranking list will be published,” they added.

The 33-year-old won a gold medal and prize money at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, and came fifth-place at the World Mountain Running Championships.