•Otieno was the most promising Kenyan sprinter before Ferdinand Omanyala happened.
•He flew the country’s flag at the 2015 All-Africa Games and the 2016 and 2019 African Championships.
Image: FILE
Tony Mballa Sprinter Mark Otieno has been cleared by Athletics Kenya to return to competition following the elapse of a two-year ban.
AK communicated its decision to the athlete in a letter dated August 1, 2023. “Following your anti-doping violation, you are now eligible to return to competition and other activities in athletics,” read the letter in part.
“Otieno’s period of ineligibility came to an end on July 31, 2023, having been backdated to July 31, 2021,” the letter added. He was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for Methasterone.
In a swift rejoinder, Otieno’s communications team said the athlete was thrilled to be free from the agonizing chains of the ban.
“With this chapter now behind him, Mark is set to resume active competition on August 1, 2023, with his sights firmly set on winning medals for Kenya in the competitions set for 2024,” the statement read in part.
“Mark extends his heartfelt gratitude to his dear wife, extended family, friends, legal team, and the entire Kenyan fraternity for their unwavering support during his darkest days. He also commends the media fraternity for their responsible reporting despite misinformation and errors.”
Otieno suggested the establishment of a lab in Kenya to test athlete samples and supplements, saying this would save careers from stalling prematurely.
“He proposes the Kenyan government partnering with trusted supplement brands to provide discounted supplements for athletes, a practice already in place in countries like Denmark. Mark’s new mission has become advocating for better practices and reducing unintentional doping in sports,” added the statement.
“He aims to collaborate with the Ministry of Sports, as well as other relevant institutions, to share his experiences and findings, fostering positive changes and creating a safer sporting environment for all athletes.”
Otieno was the most promising Kenyan sprinter before Ferdinand Omanyala happened.
He flew the country’s flag at the 2015 All-Africa Games and the 2016 and 2019 African Championships.
Otieno was also part of the team that represented Kenya at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the 2017 World Championships in London. The development comes barely a couple of days after the Kenyan sprinter hinted at his return to the track.
Talking to the Star in an earlier interview on Monday, Otieno said he hoped to bounce back strongly after a harrowing experience that left him in the cold for two good seasons.
“In less than 12 hours, I will be eligible to compete again. Mine is a story of God’s Faithfulness and Mercies,” Otieno said.
He acknowledged the reality that he will not be able to make it to the 2023 World Championship in Budapest Hungary but noted that he would take a stab at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The thought of missing out on the world championships is frustrating but I hope to race in Paris next year. That’s probably going to be my first major global race on my return,” he said.