Agony for Athletics Kenya as two more Kenyans banned for doping

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenya's Ibrahim Mukunga Wachira [Standard]

The doping menace continues to haunt Athletics Kenya after two more Kenyan long-distance runners were on Tuesday suspended for doping.

Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenya's Ibrahim Mukunga Wachira for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone).

The body formed by World Athletics to combat doping in the sport also banned Wachira's teammate Kenneth Kiprop Renju for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Methasterone).

AIU runs an extensive anti-doping program covering more than 300 professional road runners.

The program's activities - testing, intelligence, investigation, prosecution, and education - are funded entirely through contributions from World Athletics and various race organizers.

Wachira is best known for winning a half marathon race in Estonia while wearing only socks in 2017.

On the other hand, Kiprop is the reigning 10000m national champion, a title he won on April 27 this year. He also won Lille 10km race on March 27 in France, Prague Half Marathon on April 2 in the Czech Republic, and Lisbon Half Marathon on May 22 in Portugal.

The duo now joins 2021 Boston Marathon winner Diana Kipyokei and her training mate Betty Lempus who had been provisionally suspended three days ago for violating the anti-doping rules. The big names who have been flagged down for various doping wrongdoings in recent times include the 2019 Chicago Marathon winner Lawrence Cherono, and Rotterdam Marathon champions Stella Barsosio as well as Lilian Kasait.

Over 25 Kenyan runners have so far been suspended this year alone.