Former Milano Marathon champion provisionally suspended by AIU for whereabout failures

The 2019 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion has gotten himself in bad books with the Athletics Integrity Unit following his recent charge.

The 2019 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion Reuben Kipyego has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for whereabout failures.

The AIU, in an announcement on Tuesday, June 4, noted that Kipyego has been suspended temporarily from participating in any competition or activity in athletics prior to a final decision at a hearing conducted under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.

Kipyego’s final race was the NN Rotterdam Marathon in 2022 where he finished an impressive third. He has also competed in three races in 2021 where he struck with a win at the Milano Marathon and later finished eighth at the Chicago Marathon before finishing second at the Abu Dhabi Marathon.

He has been competing sparingly and launched his career with the marathon, hence no record of him competing on the track. He started off his career with the full marathon at the 2019 Maratón de Buenos Aires Ñandú where he finished second.

Meanwhile, for a provisional suspension, the AIU further noted that some of the cases remain under investigation, while others are the subject of a notice of charge and so will also appear on the list of Pending First Instance cases.

AIU further noted that a provisional suspension is mandatory under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules following an adverse analytical finding for any non-specified substance on the Prohibited List.

A Provisional Suspension may be imposed in other doping cases depending on the nature and circumstances of the case in question. It is imposed in a non-doping case does not in any way abrogate the presumption of innocence and it is not an early determination of guilt. Rather, it is an order made on a precautionary basis to safeguard the interests of the sport.

posted Tuesday June 4th
by Abigael Wuafula