The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Tuesday that they have handed down suspensions to four Kenyan athletes for violating anti-doping rules.
In the statement, the AIU revealed that Sophy Jepchirchir, Ibrahim Wachira, Elias Kemei and Nicholas Kosimbei have all been found guilty of using prohibited substances.
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Sophy Jepchirchir has been banned for 3 years after testing positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone. The AIU stated that Testosterone is classified as a non-specified substance that is banned at all times under the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. The AIU noted that Jepchirchir “has not demonstrated that the Anti-Doping Rule Violations were not intentional,” resulting in the mandatory 4-year ban period.
Ibrahim Wachira was handed a 4-year ban after his sample tested positive for Norandrosterone and Tamoxifen. The AIU said the 4-year period of ineligibility will apply “unless the Athlete demonstrates that the Anti-Doping Rule Violations were not intentional.”
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Elias Kemei received a 3-year ban for testing positive for Trimetazidine, which is prohibited by the AIU.
Similarly, Nicholas Kosimbei also received a 3-year ban after testing positive for the same substance as Kemei.
This is not the first time the AIU has sanctioned Kenyan athletes. Recently, long-distance runner Kennedy Kiprop was banned for 2 years for missing three doping tests from November to December 2023, violating the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM).