Kenyan distance runner Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo has been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for two years, beginning September 1, 2026.
Kimaiyo claimed that he took his wife’s prescription medication, which contained the banned substance chlorthalidone.
Chlorthalidone is a diuretic and masking agent. His urine sample returned an adverse analytical finding for the substance this summer. Before the test, Kimaiyo informed the AIU that he had been taking his wife’s medication. He supplied photographic evidence of OLMECURE-CT 40, a prescription medication containing olmesartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone.
Kimaiyo finished third at the Bogotá Half Marathon in Colombia on July 26, running 1:03:53. He had won the race the previous year.
In 2025, he ran a marathon personal best of 2:04:01 when he finished second at the Hamburg Marathon. He also finished eighth at the Chicago Marathon in 2:06:14. His personal bests include 58:11 for the half marathon, 2:04:01 for the marathon and 27:23 for 10 km. His track best over 10,000m is 27:25.08.
Kimaiyo collected €20,000 in prize money for his second-place finish at Hamburg and €3,000 for his eighth-place finish at Berlin. He also collected another €7,000 in 2021 and 2022 at the Valencia Half Marathon. He left Bogotá with prize money as well.
The 27-year-old accepted the charges, resulting in a reduced suspension.
Chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) are both thiazide-type diuretics used to treat high blood pressure and reduce excess fluid.
HCTZ was also the substance involved in the case of world-record holder Ruth Chepngetich. Her urine sample contained an estimated 3,800 ng/ml of hydrochlorothiazide, approximately 190 times the applicable reporting threshold.
Kenya has criminalized certain aspects of sports doping, primarily targeting support personnel and fraudulent activities rather than making a positive test by an athlete itself a criminal offence.
Kenya’s Anti-Doping Act provides criminal penalties, including fines and potential jail terms of up to three years, for doctors, agents, coaches and other support personnel found guilty of facilitating or conspiring in doping.
Criminal prosecution can also apply when individuals use illegal methods or forge medical documents during anti-doping investigations. Meanwhile, the World Anti-Doping Agency has generally opposed criminalizing an athlete’s positive test itself, favouring sporting sanctions such as periods of ineligibility.
Kenya is currently considering amendments to its anti-doping legislation. The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya published a request for public comments on the proposed Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2026, along with revised anti-doping rules and a national anti-doping policy.
Approximately 400 athletes have been suspended for doping-related reasons since 2012.
