The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced a notice of allegation against Kenyan marathoner Ronald Kipkoech Korir on Tuesday, provisionally suspending the 35-year-old over suspected doping following findings in his Athlete Biological Passport.
Korir finished fourth at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, won by Eliud Kipchoge. His time of 2:04:22 placed him among the world’s leading marathoners that year. He also finished fourth at the 2024 Hamburg Marathon.
Kenya’s anti-doping record continues to draw scrutiny. An estimated 500 Kenyan athletes have been associated with anti-doping concerns since 2012. Since 2017, approximately 140 Kenyan athletes have been suspended or banned by the AIU, including women’s marathon world-record holder Ruth Chepngetich.
The decision to award Nairobi the 2029 World Athletics Championships is likely to bring further attention to the East African nation’s anti-doping policies and enforcement efforts.
Several other athletes have also faced recent anti-doping proceedings.
Kazakhstan’s Ayana Bolatbekkyzy, a middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 and 1,500 metres, was suspended over the presence or use of drostanolone, an anabolic steroid. Omani sprinter Fatek Adnan Awadh Bait Qisan received a notice of charge concerning ligandrol, a substance associated with performance enhancement.
France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela, the Olympic silver medallist in the 100-metre hurdles at Paris 2024 and world indoor 60-metre hurdles champion in 2022, was suspended after missing three doping tests within 12 months.
Uzbekistan’s Doston Rajabov, 32, was suspended following findings involving octodrine, turinabol and drostanolone. A five-time national shot put champion, Rajabov could face a suspension exceeding four years, depending on the applicable anti-doping rules and the outcome of the proceedings.
The cases underscore the range of anti-doping violations pursued by athletics authorities, from adverse analytical findings involving prohibited substances to failures to comply with testing requirements.
