The Kenyan Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) has announced the provisional suspension of marathon runner Rita Jeptooalong with 26 other Kenyan athletes for violations of anti-doping rules.
Rita Jeptoo, a former winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons, had already been suspended for four years in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance. She returned to competition three years ago. At 45 years old, she has once again been suspended following a test that revealed the presence of prohibited anabolic androgenic steroids, ADAK stated. Her suspension will remain in effect until her hearing, the date of which has not yet been set.
The national 400m hurdles champion, Wiseman Were, aged 28, has been suspended for whereabouts failures. The bronze medalist in the 4x400m relay at the Commonwealth Games allegedly missed three doping tests since August 2025. Like Jeptoo, his suspension, effective since February 14, prevents him from competing until he appears before the disciplinary panel, at a date yet to be determined.
The list also includes football and basketball players who have been provisionally suspended for various doping violations.
Since 2017, more than 140 Kenyan athletes, mainly long-distance runners, have been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) — a higher number than in any other country. Among them are the current women’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, who was suspended for three years in the spring after testing positive for a diuretic, and Benard Kibet Koech, who finished fifth in the 10,000 meters at the Paris Olympic Games, and was suspended for four years in February.
