The 2022 world champion steeplechase runner Norah Jeruto is now eligible to compete in the Paris Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an appeal by World Athletics to ban her in a doping case. Born in Kenya and representing Kazakhstan, Jeruto was initially cleared by a disciplinary tribunal last year despite unusual blood test results which she attributed to stomach ulcers and a bout of COVID-19.
World Athletics sought a four-year ban for Jeruto, but the appeal was ultimately dismissed by CAS. Although Jeruto missed the opportunity to defend her world title last year while provisionally suspended, no banned substance was found in her system. The case centered around whether blood samples from 2020 and 2021 were significant enough to prove a violation of anti-doping rules.
It is a relief for Jeruto to now have the opportunity to compete at the Paris Olympics after facing the uncertainty of a potential ban. Her remarkable career as a steeplechase runner remains intact despite the challenges she has faced with the doping case. The focus can now shift to her preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, where she will aim to showcase her talent and skill on the world stage.