As many as 23 Kenyan athletes have been banned for doping violation in 2022 and the year has not ended yet.
According to Kenya’s influential newspaper, The Daily Nation, 2021 Boston Marathon champion, Diana Kipyokei and her compatriot Betty Wilson Lempus are the latest to have been suspended for using banned substances.
The duo have been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
”Both have also been charged with obstructing the AIU’s investigation by providing false information or documentation,’ wrote the newspaper.
‘Kipyokei and Lempus’ suspension comes only three days after Kenyan marathon runners Mark Kangogo and Philemon Kacheran were banned for doping.
‘Kangogo on Tuesday became the latest distance runner from the country to be sanctioned by the AIU for allegedly breaching its anti-doping rules’.
The AIU said in a tweet via its verified twitter handles that it has ‘banned Mark Kangogo of Kenya for 3 years for the Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances from 9 September 2022. DQ results from 13 August 2022.’
Kipyokei and Lempus are the 22nd and 23rd Kenyan athletes suspended in 2022.
On Monday, Kacheran, who was stopped from competing at the Commonwealth games in August, was banned for three years ‘from 8 July 2022 for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone).’