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.
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.”
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).
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