FALSE: Photo does not show the drought situation in Embolioi, Kajiado County, in October 2022
Admin Marathon runners Patrick Siele, Kenneth Kiprop Kipkemoi and Mercy Jerotich Kibarus and middle distance runner Elijah Manangoi were sanctioned by Athletics Integrity Unit on Thursday, the body announced.
The four Kenyan athletes were being monitored for various anti-doping violations according to AIU.
Big name Elijah Manangoi, 27, is the surprise package on the list. The Narok County native, who was also the 2018 Commonwealth and Continental Cup 1,500m champion, was provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures.
A whereabouts violation constitutes of any combination of three missed tests or filing failures in a 12-month period, according to the World Athletics anti-doping rules.
Manangoi is also a winner of multiple Diamond League legs over the distance in the last three years.
Patrick Siele, a 24-year-old marathon runner, was provisionally suspended for evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection. His best finish at an event was sixth in last year’s Shanghai International Marathon in a personal best time of 2:10:42.
While Manangoi and Siele were handed provisional suspensions, Kipkemoi and Kibarus were banned by the AIU after they tested positive for prohibited substances.
Kipkemoi was banned for two years for testing positive for Terbutaline, with his ban backdated to February 25. His results since September 12 last year were also all disqualified.
The 35-year-old won the 2018 NN Rotterdam Marathon in his debut over the 42.2km distance. He came second in the half marathon at the 2011 All-African Games in Mozambique and was seventh in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Russia two years later.
Kibarus, on the other hand received a stiffer penalty after testing positive for the banned substance Norandrosterone.
Kibarus, 36, was banned for eight years with the ban backdated to December 5, 2019, and all her results from September 13 last year were disqualified.
By Shadrack Andenga Odinga
