AIU reprimands banned runner for attending World Athletics’ online courses

Joel Maina Mwangi was banned for three years in June 2022 for an anti-doping rule violation, and he was not authorised to attend any courses apart from anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs.

REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: Joel Maina Mwangi was banned for three years in June 2022 for an anti-doping rule violation. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reprimanded a Kenyan runner on Friday after he attended two online courses conducted by World Athletics when the conditions of his ban prevented him from participating in any activity by the athletics body.

Joel Maina Mwangi was banned for three years in June 2022 for an anti-doping rule violation, and the 38-year-old was not authorised to attend any courses apart from anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs.

Mwangi attended World Athletics’ Gender Leadership Course in April this year followed by the Technical Officials Education and Certification System course in May.

The AIU said Mwangi had been “seeking to better himself by completing certain education programmes” while serving his ban and apologised for his mistake, not knowing they were prohibited as they did not require in-person attendance.

The AIU added that since he had admitted the breach immediately when he was notified, the body considered only a reprimand and did not add to his ban, which ends on June 22, 2025.