Kenyan Hillary Kipchirchir Chepkwony has been served a notice of charge by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
The 26-year-old marathon runner received a provisional suspension on Tuesday, December 9. The AIU continues to keep an eye on Kenyan athletes in the wake of increasing sanctions over failure to comply with anti-doping regulations. Since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, it is estimated that well over 400 athletes have been suspended from the East African country.
”The AIU has provisionally suspended Hillary Kipchirchir Chepkwony (Kenya) for the Use of a Prohibited Substance/Method (ABP case),” AIU said via X (Twitter).
Chepkwony has run the half-marathon as fast as 58:53 in Valencia in 2023. His 10 km road best is 27:34, also accomplished in Valencia.
Anomalies in the athlete’s Athlete Biological Passport triggered the notice. He is in the Registered Testing Pool, while Kenya is on the WADA A-category watch list. Currently, Kenya is being monitored closely and is at risk for being served with a national ban, similar to Russia’s ban for systematic doping.
