Another Kenyan Athlete Banned For 6 Years, All Medals Recalled
Rhonex Kipruto, the World Championship 10,000 metres and 10-kilometre road-running world record holder, has been barred from competing in athletic contests for six years by the Athletics Integrity Unit.
In a statement made on Wednesday, the sports body said that the athlete will lose some of his career achievements, including the 10-kilometre road-running world record he set in Valencia, Spain in 2020.
While explaining why the athlete is facing a lengthy ban, AIU stated that the decision was made after tests on samples he submitted revealed that he had allegedly engaged in doping.
As a result, the athlete will be banned until May 10, 2029. His competitive results from September 2, 2018 to May 11, 2023 have likewise been invalidated.
“This means the athlete’s 10-kilometre road-running world record in Valencia in 2020; 10,000 metres bronze medal in the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and 10,000 metres victory in the 2019 Stockholm Diamond League, among many other honours,” will be annulled, stated AIU.
Spirited Defence
Following his provisional suspension on May 11, 2023, the athlete staged a passionate defense.
In his defence, Kipruto contested the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) accusation, claiming that the irregularities identified were caused by a variety of variables, including his body’s natural and particular traits, as well as other medical and health concerns.
The AIU panel, however, denied this explanation, claiming that the irregularities were caused by blood manipulation rather than natural reasons, as indicated by Kipruto.
“After considering submissions from experts, the Tribunal rejected Kipruto’s defence, concluding the “cause for the abnormalities in the ABP is more likely to be due to blood manipulation” such as through the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO) while pointing out there was “no other plausible explanation” for the abnormal values,” a press statement released by the global body reads.
“Between 9 July 2018 and 15 March 2022, 32 blood samples from the athlete were collected and analysed to create his biological passport. Three experts subsequently analysed the passport, while also reviewing the athlete’s whereabouts along with his competition schedule and deemed in a unanimous opinion that doping was “highly likely” based on a number of “abnormal haematological patterns,” the statement further reads.
Furthermore, the Unit noted that the ban was a measure to respect the organization’s principles and ensure that elite athletes follow anti-doping rules.
Kipruto’s penalty comes after the Kenyan Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended 33 athletes on June 4.
The 33 consisted of 26 track athletes, three basketball players, three rugby players, and one handball player.
Another Kenyan Athlete Banned For 6 Years, All Medals Recalled
