The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Tuesday handed four Kenyan athletes suspensions with different durations of time over allegations of engaging in doping.
In a statement, the agency announced that Sophy Jepchirchir, Ibrahim Wachira, Elias Kemei and Nicholas Kosimbei had been found guilty of using illegal substances.
AIU confirmed banning Sophy Jepchirchir for 3 years after laboratory results depicted the use of a prohibited substance, Testosterone, by the athlete.
While defending its decision to ban Jepchirchir, AIU stated that Testosterone was a prohibited substance under the WADA 2024 and that It was a Non-Specified substance prohibited at all times.
"The Athlete has not demonstrated that the Anti-Doping Rule Violations were not intentional. Therefore, the mandatory period of Ineligibility is a period of Ineligibility of four (4) years," AIU noted in a statement.
On the other hand, Ibrahim Wachira was handed a 4-year ban after Norandrosterone and Tamoxifen were detected in his sample.
"The period of Ineligibility to be imposed is therefore four years unless the Athlete demonstrates that the Anti-Doping Rule Violations were not intentional," read part of a statement by AIU.
Athlete Elias Kemei received a 3-year ban for testing positive for Trimetazidine, a substance prohibited by the integrity unit.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Kosimbei was banned for 3 years after a laboratory test revealed the presence of a prohibited substance Trimetazidine.
It is not the first time that the agency has banned Kenyan athletes. Barely three weeks ago, AIU banned long-distance runner Kennedy Kiprop for two years after he missed three doping tests between November and December 2023.
AIU faulted the athlete for contravening the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM).
Similarly, in January this year, Kenyan Marathoner Sarah Chepchirchir was banned for four years after failing a doping test.
