Eight days after Norah Jeruto crossed the finish line to claim Kazakhstan's first-ever World Athletics title, her world came crashing down. A letter arrived that threatened to strip away everything she had worked for—her championship record in the 3000m steeplechase, her place in history, and potentially her entire career.
World Athletics had charged her with violating the Athlete Biological Passport program based on irregular blood values. In over a decade of such cases, no athlete had ever successfully defended against these charges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The science was complex and the stakes were enormous.
- No athlete had ever won an ABP case at CAS
- The case involved complex hematological science around blood doping detection
- Medical records were limited due to the rural Kenyan healthcare system during COVID-19
- Our client faced a potential career-ending ban and loss of her historic achievement
GSA’s Defense Strategy Prioritized Medical Evidence Over Statistical Models
While World Athletics built their case entirely on statistical models and computer algorithms designed to detect unusual patterns in blood values, the GSA legal team recognized that defeating these allegations required a fundamentally different approach. GSA needed to provide compelling medical evidence that offered alternative explanations for every abnormal reading in Jeruto's ABP rather than simply challenging their data interpretation.
GSA’s most compelling evidence involved Jeruto's COVID-19 infection in August 2020. Expert testimony established that she contracted the virus during Kenya's outbreak peak—timing that proved crucial since the infection occurred precisely when her blood values showed the most significant abnormalities.
This timing mattered because medical literature has documented that the COVID-19 virus can cause blood abnormalities nearly identical to those found in Jeruto's samples. The infection affects red blood cell production, hemoglobin levels, and other markers that ABP systems monitor for signs of doping. These changes can persist for months after recovery, creating patterns that algorithms might flag as suspicious but actually represent legitimate physiological responses to illness.
GSA also presented evidence of Jeruto's documented history of peptic ulcer disease, diagnosed in 2017. Medical records confirmed ongoing gastrointestinal bleeding episodes that explained additional abnormal samples in her ABP. Expert testimony supported this explanation, detailing how chronic bleeding affects blood chemistry in ways that might be misinterpreted as evidence of blood doping or athlete’s prohibited substance use.
Additionally, GSA demonstrated that the timing of the alleged abnormalities did not align with competitions where Jeruto would benefit from performance enhancement. The suspicious readings occurred during training periods and off seasons—undermining any logical motive for doping.
GSA also got World Athletics' own experts to contradict themselves during cross-examination, as they changed their conclusions multiple times. Their expert witnesses initially claimed the doping corresponded to competitions, only to modify their opinion and claim it was done to help with training when presented with additional evidence that showed she did not race at all during the period in question. This internal inconsistency damaged the credibility of the scientific case against Norah since there was no credible doping explanation.
Photographic Evidence Provided Additional Collaboration
During our thorough investigation, we discovered something World Athletics had missed: a timestamped photograph in Norah's Google Photos showing COVID-19 medication from August 21, 2020. This wasn't just any photo—it was contemporaneous evidence that corroborated her entire defense.
The medication, Rhinathiol/Promethazine, was commonly used in Kenya to treat COVID-19 symptoms in 2020. Even more compelling, Norah had properly declared this medication on her doping control forms, stating she last took it on September 2—just four days before her abnormal blood test.
The photograph showed that Norah wasn't trying to hide anything. She was genuinely ill and seeking treatment during the exact period when her blood values were irregular.
Breaking New Ground at CAS
The hearing at CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, was historic. For the first time in ABP jurisprudence, the scientific evidence and legal advocacy aligned to present a compelling alternative explanation to doping.
The three-arbitrator panel delivered a resounding victory, finding that:
- Norah's testimony was "persuasive and credible" despite being "medically unsophisticated"
- The photograph provided "compelling evidence" of her illness and treatment
- Our expert testimony was more convincing than testimony from the World Athletics' expert
- The COVID-19 explanation was "more likely" than the EPO doping scenario
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in Jeruto's favor by stating that World Athletics’ appeal against Jeruto had been dismissed. They wrote, “Given that Ms. Jeruto is not liable for a violation of Rule 2.2 of the ADR, the first Appealed Decision is upheld, and no consequences are to be imposed upon her, i.e., no period of ineligibility and no disqualification of results.”
"This case perfectly illustrates why athletes need experienced sports law attorneys from the moment they receive a notice of potential violation," said Global Sports Advocates Founding Partner Paul Greene. "The difference between career destruction and vindication often comes down to the quality of your legal team and expert witnesses. The smallest details matter and the athlete’s explanation must be properly told from the beginning."
A Champion Returns
Following our victory, Norah Jeruto kept her World Championship title and represented Kazakhstan at the 2024 Paris Olympics. More importantly, this victory opened the door for future athletes facing similar charges, proving that with proper representation, even the most complex anti-doping cases can be successfully defended.
“It was truly an honor to stand up for an innocent athlete like Norah and protect her rights,” Greene said. “We truly care about everyone we represent and are very happy that Norah has returned to her life and career without this destroying her legacy. Norah will forever be a World Champion now.”
