USADA announced today that Joseph Mutinda, a Kenyan athlete in the sport of track & field, who has trained in Santa Fe, N.M. for the past several years, has admitted to the use of various prohibited substances and accepted a three-year sanction for his doping offenses.
Mutinda, 40, tested positive for 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) above the decision limit of 2.5ng/mL on two separate occurrences: first, as a result of an in-competition urine sample collected by USADA at the 2014 Austin Marathon & Half Marathon event held in Austin, Texas on February 16, 2014, and second, as a result of an out-of-competition sample collected by USADA on May 3, 2014. He also admitted to the use of erythropoietin (EPO) and furosemide.
The substances Mutinda admitted using and that were detected in his samples are prohibited under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Association of Athletics Federations (“IAAF”) Anti-Doping Rules, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. 19-NA is a metabolite of an Anabolic Agent, EPO is a substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors and Related Substances, and furosemide is a substance in the class of Diuretics and Other Masking Agents.
Mutinda’s period of ineligibility began on February 16, 2014, the date his first sample was collected at the Austin Marathon. Mutinda finished first in the 2014 Austin Marathon and his result from that competition is disqualified. In addition, Mutinda has been disqualified from all other competitive results obtained on and subsequent to December 15, 2013, the date from which records show he was first administered EPO, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation.
USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
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