Seven Kenyan athletes banned for doping

Two-time world cross country champion Emily Chebet is among seven athletes who have been suspended by Athletics Kenya for failing drugs tests.

Kenya’s 400m hurdles champion Francisca Koki and 400m runner Joyce Zakari were also suspended for four years for use of furosemide.

Freihofer’s elite athlete recruiter John Tope said he was informed by Chebet’s agent that she doesn’t plan to appeal the ruling handed down Friday for testing positive for furosemide, a banned diuretic and masking agent.

About 40 Kenyan athletes have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in the past two years.

The stand-off ended after talks with government officials who called for top Athletics Kenya (AK) bosses to step aside while they were investigated by police for corruption.

Chebet won the bronze in 10,000m at the 2006 and 2014 Africa Athletics Championships as well as silver and bronze at the 2014 and 12 editions of the CAA Africa Cross Country Championships, giving her the unwanted distinction of being the first Kenyan medallist to be banned for substance abuse. Her ban was backdated to July 17 and runs through until July 16, 2019, Xinhua news agency reported.

Three other distance runners, Bernard Mwendia, Judy Kimuge and Lilian Moraa Mariita, each received two-year bans.

Mariita, the 2012 Miami half-marathon victor, was caught doping with the blood-boosting hormone, EPO.

Agnes Jepkosgei is also facing four years on the sidelines for the use of Norandrosterone.

Kenya has banned seven athletes, including two female sprinters sent home from the World Championships in Beijing, for doping offences, Athletics Kenya (AK) said in a statement yesterday.

Athletics Kenya announced the sanctions on Friday, with Chebet receiving a four-year ban as the sport was plunged into more turmoil.

The IAAF has opened investigations into allegations that track officials in Kenya were involved in covering up positive doping tests.