© Copyright – 2024 — Athletics Illustrated
Three Kenyans, a Ukrainian and a Spaniard walk into a bar…
Over the past 24 hours, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended Ezekiel Kipkorir, Elijah Kipkosgei and Sheila Chebet of Kenya for doping-related offences. The organization also suspended Ukrainian Roman Kokoshko for Whereabouts Program failures. Additionally, Spanish-Moroccan athlete, Mohamed Katir, (as earlier reported) had his two-year suspension for Whereabouts failures doubled for tampering.
Ezekiel Kiprorir raced seven times in nine months
Kipkorir ran 1:02:08 and 2:11:39 in May and October this year. Both the half marathon and marathon performances are his lifetime personal bests. The red-flag moment came in October, his fourth marathon and seventh race in 2024. The other three races were half marathons. All seven long-distance races were run over nine months.
On November 29, the 29-year-old tested positive for the presence of testosterone and its metabolites androstane.
He accepted a three-year suspension when he admitted fault.
Elijah Kipkosgei
Not much is known about Kipkosgei. He finished in 2:18:28 during the 2023 Nairobi Marathon. He finished in 22nd place.
The slowpoke tested positive for Triamcinolone acetonide. The corticosteroid is used to treat a variety of conditions by reducing swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.
The AIU has provisionally suspended Elijah Kipkosgei (Kenya) for Presence of a Prohibited Substance (Triamcinolone acetonide)
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) December 20, 2024
Details here: https://t.co/Y8LF9j2o9f pic.twitter.com/sTTAdSF99Z
Perhaps he was taking it for a variety of conditions like reducing swelling, redness, itching and allergic reactions and not to aid in performance. However, probably not as Kenya is experiencing an epidemic of athlete doping.
Sheila Chebet
Twenty-seven-year-old Sheila Chebet of Kenya tested positive for Tramadol. It is unknown at this time if she is the same Sheila Chebet who ran the 2024 cross-country season for Alabama in the NCAA. She did race the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, which she won.
Chebet, listed as Ethiopian by the AIU is from Kenya. It is unknown if this is an error by the AIU or if she changed allegiances.
Chebet ran 2:33:48 in Lisbon in October. Tramadol is used to treat severe pain.
Roman Kokoshko
Kokoshko is the Ukrainian national record holder in the shot put. He missed three out-of-competition tests in 12 months. Doing so is equal to a positive doping test.
The European Indoors champion will be provided with a four year appealable ban that can be shorter if he admits fault.
His personal best outdoors is 21.84 metres.
