Previously suspended Kevin Samperu from Kenya, and Pooja Aatmaram from India have now had their appealable and provisional suspensions confirmed as three-year bans.
Kevin Samperu
It was announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on January 28 that Samperu, a 2:07:25 marathoner, was provisionally suspended.
The AIU has now banned him for three years from 23 January 2026 for the presence/Use of Prohibited Substance (Testosterone). Results are disqualified from 23 November 2025.
The AIU has banned Mathew Samperu (Kenya) for 3 years from 23 January 2026 for Presence/Use of Prohibited Substance (Testosterone). DQ results from 23 November 2025.
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) February 23, 2026
Details here: https://t.co/EvmwlYlj8J pic.twitter.com/1hCFocWapJ
Samperu, currently ranked 247th in the men’s marathon by World Athletics, has recorded notable performances. These include a 1:00:27 at the Istanbul Half Marathon in 2024 and a 2:07:25 marathon pb in Sevilla, in 2025.
The 31-year-old won at the 2022 Kip Keino Classic, recording a time of 28:56.07 during the 10,000m event.
Pooja Aatmaram
The AIU has banned Pooja Aatmaram for three years from 3 February 2026. Aatmaram is banend for Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection by an Athlete. DQ results from 23 November 2025.
The 23-year-old is a middle-distance runner with an 800 metre best of 2:01.03 and a 1500m personal record of 4:09.52.
