2014 Bermuda Marathon Runner Up Banned for 8 Years
Mariita Crossing the Line in Bermuda
IslandStats.com
Kenyan athlete Lilian Mariita who was the second Female finisher and 11th overall with a time of 1:22:41 during the 2014 Bermuda International Race Weekend Marathon, has been banned for eight years after her second anti-doping violation, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced.
Mariita finished 18th in the 2014 Bermuda International Race Weekend HSBC 10K and 5th during the 2014 Bermuda International Race Weekend Front Street Mile Elite Women’s race.
The 26-year-old, who lived in Kentucky in the United States, tested positive for a prohibited anabolic agent after an in-competition sample was taken on July 4th.
She had been competing at the Great Buffalo Chase 5km event in Kentucky's capital Frankfort.
Mariita's ban began on August 14th, the day she was informed of a provisional suspension.
The winner of the 2012 Miami Half-Marathon was also sanctioned last month by Athletics Kenya after testing positive for EPO, a blood boosting hormone, and given a two-year ban.
All medals, points and prizes she obtained after July 4th have been forfeited.
Doping has been a major problem for Kenyan athletics, with the country banning seven of its competitors in November, including Mariita.
Among those suspended were double world cross country champion and Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist Emily Chebet, 400m Runner Joyce Zakary and 400m Hurdler Koki Manunga.
The number of Kenyans banned for drugs offences is now thought to be close to 50.