Italian athletics coach Claudio Berardelli charged over doping

By Reuters Sport

Image: Federico Rosa (left) and Claudio Berardelli (right) deny charges

Athletics coach Claudio Berardelli has been charged over the alleged administration of a prohibited performance enhancing substance to a Kenyan marathon champion.

Berardelli, who was arrested with fellow-Italian sports coach Federico Rosa last month, denied the charges in a Nairobi court on Tuesday and was released on bail. Rosa has also denied the charges.

Berardelli is accused of administering EPO to Rita Jeptoo in 2014. He was charged along with two Kenyans, who were also freed on bail.

Image: Rita Jeptoo celebrating her victory in the Boston Marathon of 2014

Jeptoo was suspended for two years in October 2014 after failing an out-of-competition test for the banned blood-booster, becoming the most high-profile positive test from Kenya.

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Her case is being dealt with at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The distance runner, who won back-to-back Boston and Chicago titles in 2013 and 2014 and the Boston event again in 2006, has denied doping.

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