Ex-100m national record holder plots comeback as ban nears end

Former national 100 meters champions Mark Odhiambo is yearning to go as he prepares for a comeback following a two-year suspension that saw him missout from taking part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

During an online interview in 2022, Odhiambo, 28, disclosed that he traveled globally in search of qualification time for the National Trials.

“In my training, I worked so hard as I traveled globally in search of qualification time for the National Trials,”he said.

On saturday 28 July,2021 at around 1300hrs (EAT), Kenyans were treated to shocking news when several media outlets revealed that the three-time Kenya champion had been withdrawn from Team Kenya in Japan after failing a drug test. 

It was revealed that the samples taken from Odhiambo had adverse analytical findings for anabolic and androgenic steroid. 

Odhiambo would then be banned for two years by the Athletics Intergrity Unit.

According to AIU, the former national record-holder over the distance tested positive for methasterone and handed a ban backdated to July 31,2021. 

The speed star maintained his innocence and even appealed his provisional suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 

Odhiambo’s first task will be aiming for a comeback and probably prepare for the new athletics season since he will not be eligible to compete in the next World Athletics Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary.