The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenyan runner Sheila Chelangat after testing positive for the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO).
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Sheila Chelangat, a Kenyan, for presence or use of a prohibited substance,” the AIU announced.
The two-time national cross-country champion began 2025 with a second-place finish at the Hong Kong Half Marathon in January, finishing in the time of 1:08:06.
The 27-year-old then finished second at the Istanbul Half Marathon on April 27, running 1:06:13.
Her personal best is 1:06:06 from the Valencia Half Marathon in October 2024.
She followed the money to the roads after running a series of mid-14 to high 14-minute 5000m races, now focusing on the half-marathon over the past two years.
EPO is a hormone produced mainly by the kidneys. EPO stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It’s crucial for maintaining healthy red blood cell levels and delivering oxygen throughout the body. Oxygen levels regulate EPO levels in the blood, and the kidneys produce less EPO when damaged, leading to anemia.
