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In regards to his four-year competition ban, Wilson Kipsang blames his poor relationship with two of the governing bodies in Kenya: Athletics Kenya (AK) and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
The former world marathon record holder received the suspension for four whereabouts failures as well as a tampering charge when he provided false evidence and false witness testimony.
“Because these guys are not in good terms with me, they give wrong information about me. I give the right information but they say this guy is lying because we are not in good terms.”
Kipsang was provisionally suspended in January after being charged with two breaches of anti-doping rules, including four whereabouts violations within a 12-month period. Three failures is cause for an appealable four-year suspension.
The second charge was related to providing misleading information and evidence to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). It was apparently an “attempt to obstruct or delay the investigation”.
Kipsang ran the marathon as fast as 2:03:13 in Berlin 2016. He held the world record at 2:03:23 from Berlin 2013 before Dennis Kimetto (2:02:57, 2014 Berlin), followed by Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:39, 2018 Berlin) bettered it. His times still stand as the ninth and 12th-fastest official marathon times.
Kipchoge ran a time trial under two-hours, while there are two B.A.A. Boston Marathon performances in the top-10. Boston’s course is not considered legal.
Kipsang and Rita Jeptoo were the winners of the 2013-14 World Marathon Majors competition. Both have been banned. Jeptoo tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Edna Kiplagat was awarded the WMM win after Jeptoo’s suspension. Incidentally, she was awarded the win again two years later when Jemima Sumgong was also suspended for testing positive. All athletes are Kenyans.
