Kenya has seen more than 30 suspensions for doping in 2022 alone. Mary Ngugi does not understand this phenomenon. She is against this cheating which only tarnishes the image of her sport. The Kenyan slams her fist on the table.
"They are taught that money is everything. Money is not everything. It's also about your career when you retire, at 70, what are you going to tell your kids? I would rather be third, fourth, fifth, but I know that's me. I didn't cheat or steal from anyone. This is Mary Ngugi's indictment of athletes who use doping products to achieve their goals of winning medals. The gold medalist at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2014 and 2016 opened up to BBC Sport Africa.
The 34-year-old runner is not stopping there. Mary Ngugi goes as far as to say that these people, whom she likens to cheaters, do not respect those who follow the rules. "Athletes must have integrity and respect for their work, because it's not just anything. Respect the other athletes. When someone comes up to you, learn to say no, I don't want to do that. And don't cheat (...). They want to break the world record tomorrow. It takes time. Don't start today and next year, if you want to win a major. It doesn't work like that," she added "They are greedy".
Victim of cheating by her peers
However, Mary Ngugi has been a victim, despite herself, of doping in the business. In 2021, the Kenyan initially finished third in the Boston Marathon. However, she will eventually be declared second. Her compatriot Diana Kipyokei, who had won the race, was caught by the patrol because she was suspended 6 years for doping. Nevertheless, this was not beneficial for Ngugi, far from it. "That race meant so much because I was coming off a tough year. I had lost my contract. I was so happy to finish third, so imagine what it would have meant to me to finish second. It's something I'll never get back. The reason is that she didn't get the financial benefits of the official second place. With a difference of nearly 25,000 dollars (a little over 22,000 euros).
