'I’ve learnt a lot from my mistakes', says Manangoi after serving whereabouts failure ban

Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi has urged athletes to follow World Athletics rules to the letter to avoid being penalized.

Manangoi is fresh from serving a two-year ban for whereabouts failures, an anti-doping violation that consists of three missed doping tests.

The athlete’s ban which was effective from December 22, 2019 elapsed last month and is now set to return to the track.

Manangoi made his comeback to competitive action when he competed in the mixed relays during the National Police Service Cross Country Championship held last Friday at the Ngong Race Course.

“Well, I feel good to be back. It was tough training all alone like you are in an isolation room. It has been a very difficult period for me but I can say I have a very strong mind,” recounted Manangoi.

The 29-year-old regretted his mistakes and urged athletes to regularly update their whereabouts to avoid getting in trouble with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

“I think now I know everything.  I know how to fill in my whereabouts and all the other rules of AIU. My advice to athletes is for them to fill their own whereabouts; they should not let anyone do it for them. They should not take anything for granted however small it might look, as it may end up being a very big blow. I am a human being and it can happen to anybody but I have learnt a lot from this experience,” said Manangoi.

As he returns to the track in a busy campaign, Manangoi said his target is to reclaim the World Championships title as well as defend his Commonwealth crown.

“I didn’t defend my title in 2019 due to injury then I also missed last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo however for me I don’t give up. We have some very good races coming up, of course this year we have the Worlds in Oregon, Commonwealth Games and also the Diamond League circuit. I therefore don’t want to dwell on the past but I choose to focus ahead,” he said.