Kenyan, Sheila Jepkosgei Chesang, has been provisionally suspended for doping.
Chesang’s best over a broad range of distances races are likely 2:02.80 in the 800-metre event and 1:10:58 in the half-marathon.
The AIU has banned Sheila Jepkosgei Chesang (Kenya) for 2 years, from 15 January 2025, for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance (Methylprednisolone). DQ results since 6 October 2024.
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) February 14, 2025
Details here: https://t.co/62g6mBbOni pic.twitter.com/xbEEj6FJ1R
In October 2024, she was tested at the Kuala Lumpur Half Marathon.
In November the accredited lab in Doha, Qatar found that her sample was consistent with the use of methylprednisolone.
Chesang has claimed that she had taken medication to deal with pneumonia. Dr. Kirwa had prescribed an antibiotic that he claims that he did not know contained methylprednisolone.
It is the athlete’s responsibility to know what they are consuming.
In-competition tests typically are less effective than out-of-competition tests. However, there has been a slight increase in the number of in-competition tests that have yielded results pointing to doping.
Kenya currently is experiencing the most suspensions in athletics. The exposure increased greatly when the Kenya government agreed to fund anti-doping to $5 million US annually. However, in light of the magnitude of the problem, the government simply cut off the funding.
