Sabastian Sawe’s coach, Claudio Berardelli, was associated with at least five athletes suspended for doping

Updated: May 16, 2026, 810 AM PST

Editor’s note: The three primary athletes referenced below were coached by Claudio Berardelli while he worked for Rosa & Associati.

*The earlier-reported Asbel Kiprop association does not directly implicate Berardelli. Kiprop’s coaches were Julius Kirwa (Kenyan national coach) and Renato Canova. He was only loosely associated with Berardelli, according to a 2015 interview, and there is no evidence he was directly coached by him.

Kenyan marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe is coached by Italian trainer Claudio Berardelli, who was once removed from the Rosa & Associati management structure following recurring doping cases among athletes in that system.

Sawe ran the 2026 London Marathon in a world‑record 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete to break two hours in an official race. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, making his marathon debut, also dipped under two hours, finishing in 1:59:41.

The overarching question is, why would Sawe go out of his way to prove he is clean, while working with a coach who has had at least three athletes suspended for doping?

Berardelli’s doping‑related history

Claudio Berardelli has directly coached at least three athletes who were later suspended for doping violations:

• Rita Jeptoo
• Mathew Kisorio
• Agatha Jeruto

These cases are well‑documented by ESPN, the Associated Press, and Kenyan media.

Individual cases

• Agatha Jeruto received a four‑year ban for steroid use in 2015 while training in Berardelli’s camp. Mathew Kisorio served a two‑year suspension between 2012 and 2014; he publicly admitted to doping and was identified as an athlete coached by Berardelli.
  
• While it was earlier reported that Asbel Kiprop served a four‑year ban for EPO, is the 2008 Olympic 1500m champion and three‑time world champion. And Jemima Sumgong received an eight‑year ban after winning several major marathons, including the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her management was Rosa & Associati, but her coaching link to Berardelli is unverified.

Sawe’s voluntary anti‑doping protocol

In 2025, Sawe initiated a novel, voluntary, and independent anti‑doping program to demonstrate the legitimacy of his performances.

High‑frequency testing: In the two months before the 2025 Berlin Marathon, Sawe underwent roughly 25 unannounced, out‑of‑competition tests.

Independent oversight: Testing was conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), with neither Sawe nor his team aware of timing or methods.

Funding: The program was supported by a $50,000 contribution from Adidas, Sawe’s sponsor.

Continued monitoring: Following the success of the 2025 program, the AIU kept Sawe on a higher‑than‑normal testing frequency throughout 2026.

Purpose: The initiative aims to counter widespread concerns about doping in Kenya and reduce doubts surrounding Sawe’s record‑setting performances.

Berardelli today

Berardelli’s coaching organization, 2Running Club, is based in Nandi County, Kenya.

The three high‑profile doping cases associated with his training environment do not implicate Berardelli or Sabastian Sawe in performance‑enhancing drug use at this time.

However, there is increased scrutiny around Kenyan athletes, as currently, 140 are suspended for doping.

In fairness, the doping cases linked to Berardelli occurred more than a decade ago, during his tenure with Rosa & Associati. Since his removal from that system, no athletes coached directly by him at 2Running Club have been suspended.

Still, the question remains: Why would Sawe voluntarily subject himself to one of the most aggressive anti‑doping protocols ever seen, yet continue working with a coach long connected—fairly or not—to athletes who doped? The answer is unclear.

Rosa & Associati athletes