World Half Marathon champ Kipkoech, other top athletes face anti-doping sanctions

Paskalia Chepkorir Kipkoech (pictured), a 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships athlete, is among eight athletes who have been sanctioned by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) for violating doping regulations.

According to a statement from ADAK, signed by CEO Sarah Shibuste and seen by People Sport, the sanctions include one basketball player, Alex N’sasse Ramazani, and seven athletes from the sport of athletics.

“In accordance with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya Rules as provided under Rule 14.3 on Public Disclosure, find below a listing of athletes that have received a sanction for anti-doping violations under the ADAK Rules and /or the Athletes International Federation Rules,” read part the statement in part.

The 35-year-old Kipkoech, whose personal best of 67:17 minutes ranks her among the top twenty all-time for the half marathon, has been suspended for the presence of a prohibited substance, S9. Glucocorticoids/deflazacort metabolite desacetyldeflazacort.

Kipkoech, who won a 3000 meters silver medal at the 2003 World Youth Championships at the age of fourteen, will serve a two-year ban from February 5, 2024 to February 4, 2026.

She has achieved notable victories, including the Berlin Half Marathon, Nairobi Half Marathon, Udine Half Marathon, and the Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre, and is also in the top ten all-time for the 10K run with a best of 30:57 minutes.

Also suspended is 2023 Amsterdam Marathon champion Joshua Belet, who has been sanctioned for the presence of prohibited substances S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS)/Testosterone, 5?Adiol, Pregnanediol, Androsterone, and Etiocholanolone.

Belet will miss competition for four years, from February 13, 2024, to February 12, 2028.

Hengdian marathon champion Alfred Biwott Chemeitot will serve a four-year ban for the presence of a prohibited substance, S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS)/19-norandrosterone, the same duration as Joan Jeruto, who was banned for evading, refusing, or failing to submit to sample collection.

Other athletes affected include Allan Kipkoech, who faces a four-year ban after his sample tested positive for multiple prohibited substances, including S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS)/Pregnanediol, Androsterone, Androstane, Ketoetiocholanolone, Androstanediol, Etiocholanolone, Adilos, Epitestosterone, and Testosterone.

Isgah Cheruto, who set her personal best of 1:09:50 in the half marathon in Philadelphia, PA (USA) in 2022, will also serve a four-year ban for evading, refusing, or failing to submit to sample collection. Meanwhile, basketball player N’sasse Ramazani has been handed a one-month period of ineligibility for the presence of S8, Cannabinoids/Carboxy-THC (a substance of abuse).