Kenya’s rising cross-country star Emmaculate Anyango has been handed a six-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of the World Athletics announced the suspension on Friday, November 22, after Anyango was found to have tested positive for the use of testosterone and the blood-boosting hormone EPO.
The 24-year-old’s promising career, which had seen her break records and claim accolades, now faces an uncertain future, with her ban set to last until 2030.
Anyango’s doping violations, which were first discovered through several urine and blood samples between February and June 2024, mark a growing trend in the country.
The AIU in its public statement revealed that her initial samples tested positive for testosterone metabolites, while later samples confirmed the presence of EPO, a substance known for enhancing endurance by increasing red blood cell production. Despite Anyango’s claims that she did not knowingly ingest banned substances, the AIU remained unconvinced by her explanation and slapped her with the suspension.
In her defence, Anyango asserted that the banned substances entered her system during hospital treatments after she fainted. She admitted to receiving injections at multiple medical facilities in Eldoret but insisted she was unaware of what was being administered to her.
However, the AIU found this defence insufficient and ruled that her failure to respond to the doping charge by the November 1 deadline had forfeited her right to a hearing. Consequently, her inability to prove the substances were administered without intent led to the extension of her ban.
In January 2024, she achieved the second-fastest 10km time ever recorded by a woman, clocking 28:57 minutes in Valencia, Spain, just behind the world-record holder Agnes Ngetich. Anyango had been hailed as Kenya’s next big distance running talent, and her performances had earned her recognition, including the Sports Personality of the Month award in February.
However, with her suspension now confirmed, it is unlikely she will return to the competitive scene until her prime years have passed, potentially marking the end of what seemed like a bright future in athletics.
The AIU also ruled to disqualify Anyango from all her results since February 2024, further compounding her misfortune. Her fourth-place finish at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships in March, where Kenya won the team gold medal, will now be erased from the record books.
This year alone, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has provisionally suspended 33 athletes across various sports for violations. As of October, the World Athletics listed 11 Kenyan athletes banned from competition.
