Prisca Chesang returns to track after two-year ban

Prisca Chesang’s return to competitive athletics marked a quiet but significant moment at the national trials held on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Namboole.

Once regarded as one of Uganda’s brightest long-distance prospects, Chesang is now on a steady path to rebuilding her career after serving a two-year suspension.

The 5000m specialist rose to prominence with an impressive run at the World U20 Championships, where she clinched gold in 2022 in Cali, adding to her silver and bronze medals won in Nairobi in 2021. These achievements positioned her as a rising star destined for greater success on the global stage.

However, her progress was halted in 2024 when she was handed a two-year ban after testing positive for furosemide, a prohibited diuretic under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations. The sanction sidelined her during a crucial phase of her development, raising questions about her future in the sport.

Now cleared to compete following the end of her ban in December 2025, Chesang made her long-awaited comeback in the women’s 5000m at the national trials.

Representing Police Athletics Club, she finished seventh in a race won by Charity Cherop in 15:17.35, with teammate Esther Chekwemoi coming in second.

Despite the modest result, Chesang remains focused on regaining her form. She admitted that returning to peak condition would take time, emphasizing the need for more training and patience.

“It is not easy to be inactive for that long, but I am happy to be back,” she said. “I am trying to rebuild my fitness and see what comes next.”

Now back on the track, the 5000m and 3000m specialist is focused on reclaiming her place among the sport’s elite.