NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 27 – “I am relieved, I am delighted and I am excited.” Those were the words of sprinter Mike Otieno, after stepping on a competitive track for the first time in almost two years, at the end of his doping ban.
Otieno competed at the third Athletics Kenya (AK) track meeting at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, clocking 10.41seconds in an easy heat in his first ever competitive race since the Team Kenya trials for the Olympic Games in 2021.
“It felt really good and I am happy to be back. I am happy to compete again because as a sportsman, this is what I had missed,” Otieno told Capital Sport.
He adds; “Psychologically it wasn’t hard to come out and compete because ever since the season’s calendar came out, I have been preparing mentally. I was ready and I felt really okay.”
In his dream first ever Olympic Games in Tokyo, Otieno was pulled off the track just before his opening heat, after his sample returned a positive test for Methasterone, which is a banned substance.
What followed was an appeal to the initial ban given, Otieno protesting his innocence and later clarity coming out that he might have used a tampered supplement in his regimen.
The 30-year old has served his ban diligently, and now returns, hoping he can achieve the Olympic dream that was deferred in 2021.
“I am here to just enjoy the process,” Otieno said.
He adds; “Running a 10.41 on my return is really good for me especially because it was an easy race and I didn’t push much. I know that I can reduce that time and that is the target moving forward,” he noted.
Otieno added; “My ultimate goal is to qualify for the Olympics. That has been my dream and the inspiration for my return. It has been a difficult time but I have put all that behind and I am focusing on what is ahead.”
To attain Olympic qualification, Otieno has to chop off the 41seconds from his starting time this year, and he believes he can do it as he has just started off on a good footing and he feels his body is adjusting well.
What he hopes will push him is competition, with his peer Ferdinand Omanyala, a man who they competed again for several years before his ban, now at the top of the sprinting food chain in the world.
“I love competition because it pushes you. If you run with a fast person, you definitely become fast. I am looking forward to run faster and if I can get races outside the country then it would be great,” he says.
On Omanyala’s influence; “Ferdi has really gone beyond and broken the ceiling, showing that it is possible to achieve great things. Sometimes, if you don’t have someone trying to do the same things as you, you might end up hopeless. But he has encouraged me a lot with the milestones he has achieved,” Otieno explains.
Looking back at the past two years, Otieno has admitted they have been some of the most difficult in his career, but notes that the community around him has enabled him to go through it and come out mentally stronger.
He now hopes he can repay them with better performances, and achieving higher goals.
“I have learns that in life, you need community, especially when you are out because of doping. You need people to walk with you. It might be intentional it might not be but that doesn’t matter. You are still a human being at the end of the day and I loved how people showed love and respect and walked with me till this day,” Otieno says.
He adds; “Of course it was tough, especially financially because now you are not competing and thus no income. Mentally as well it wasn’t easy. Sometimes you ask yourself so many questions but I am grateful to those around me who covered me so well and kept checking on me and how I am doing and where I am struggling. That kept me going.”
Just like his peer Omanyala who served a one and a half year doping ban before coming back to achieve great heights, Otieno looks forward to follow in the same script.
