The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended half-marathon record holder Sheila Chelangat from participating in any athletics competition following doping allegations.
AIU suspended Chelangat on Thursday, May 22, for reportedly using an unlawful, prohibited substance in violation of Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the anti-doping rules.
"The AIU has provisionally suspended Sheila Chelangat, a Kenyan, for presence or use of a prohibited substance," the athletics integrity body announced.
The 27-year-old long-distance runner hails from Kericho and boasts several achievements, including a bronze medal in the 3,000-metre race clinched in 2015 during the World Youth Championships in Colombia.
In 2020 and 2021, she won the Kenya national cross-country championship, beating many upcoming athletes. Similarly, in 2024, she won the Betika Cross-Country race in Kericho County.
During the same year, the seasoned athlete bagged gold at the 2024 Istanbul Half Marathon with a personal best of 66 minutes 47 seconds for the 21-kilometre run.
Chelangat's suspension adds to the number of Kenyans suspended by the athletics integrity body since the year began. In the most recent case, AIU suspended Kibiwott Kandie.
Kandie was provisionally suspended on March 14, over allegations of breaching anti-doping rules by declining to submit to sample collection for a laboratory test.
The 28-year-old who won bronze in 2020 during the 10,000 Commonwealth competition held in Valencia, Spain, was suspended for an unknown period.
In an analogous incident, AIU on February 20 provisionally suspended Ronald Kurgat from participating in athletics competitions over allegations of using prohibited substances.
The 39-year-old was suspended after he tested positive for Triamcinolone acetonide, a medicine used to treat various conditions, including skin conditions and mouth sores and inflammation.
To curb doping among Kenyan athletes, the AIU has collaborated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Athletics Kenya through comprehensive strategies such as increased testing and education.
