Two Kenyan marathon champions banned for doping

Marathon champions Felix Kipchumba Korir and Emmanuel Saina are the two latest Kenyan athletes to be added to the long-growing list of athletes sidelined for doping after being banned by World Athletics' Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) disclosed on Tuesday.

AIU confirmed the duo have will be sidelined for three years starting September 9 for using a prohibited substance, Norandrosterone.

Koris who is the 2018 Nanjing Marathon champion was tested in August 17 while Saina who won the 2018 Buenos Aires Marathon provided a urine sample for an out-of-competition in Eldoret on August 18.

"The laboratory reported an adverse analytical finding in the sample based on 19- Norandesterone while the athlete did not have the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)," said AIU in a press statement.

"Korir has been suspended for three years after the AIU received an admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and acceptance of consequences. The athlete did not demonstrate that the Anti-Doping Rule Violation were not intentional and the mandatory period of ineligibility is four years.

"On September 17, 2022, the AIU received an admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and acceptance of consequences form signed by Saina and he will also benefit from the one-year reduction and be out of competition for three years."

Korir and Saina now join a growing list of close to 15 Kenyan athletes who have been banned or suspended for various doping offences in 2022

The AIU has banned Kenya's Felix Kipchumba Korir and Emmanuel Saina for 3 years each from 9 September 2022, for using Norandrosterone.

Details here: https://t.co/CzXu36djPEhttps://t.co/nyvITRqBUa pic.twitter.com/RLRzm6DOLh - Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) September 27, 2022

A week ago, African Games 5,000 metres champion Lilian Kasait was banned for 10 months starting April this year.

The Olympic athlete who finished 12th in the 5,000 meters final at last year's Tokyo Games - was found to have used the hormone therapy drug Letrozole.

The former All African Games and national champion's suspension will run from April 2022 to February 2023 because of the fact that she admitted her guilt.