Athletics: Shame as Boston Marathon champion joins long list of Kenyan athletes banned

2021 Boston Marathon champion Diana Kipyokei suspended for doping violations[Twitter]

Last year's Boston Marathon champion Diana Kipyokei and her compatriot Betty Wilson Lempus on Friday became the latest Kenyan athletes suspended by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for doping.

Kipyokei is suspended for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance (Triamcinolone acetonide) and for Tampering with any part of Doping Control by an Athlete and Lempus is suspended for Tampering with any part of Doping Control by an Athlete.

In addition to the banned substance, the two are also being charged with obstructing AIU's investigation by providing false information or documentation

"After extensive investigations, the AIU has provisionally suspended two Kenyan marathoners -Kipyokei and Wilson - and charged them with various breaches of the World Athletics AntiDoping Rules (ADR),"read part of the statement by AIU.

"These alleged anti-doping rule violations stem from probes into the information provided by the athletes to explain Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for metabolites of triamcinolone acetonide in samples they provided during in-competition tests last year."

"Both athletes were questioned about their AAF, and their respective explanations (including supporting documentation) were subjected to detailed investigation by the AIU, with vital assistance from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). Ultimately, the AIU's findings led to the charges being announced today."

Kipyokei won the women's race at the 125th Boston Marathon in two hours, 24 minutes and 45 seconds on October 11 last year.
Wilson on the other hand won Paris Half Marathon in 1:05:46 the same year.

Kipyokei and Lempus' suspension comes only three days after Kenyan marathon runners Mark Kangogo and Philemon Kacheran were banned for doping.