Kenya’s 10 km world record-holder Rhonex Kipruto, banned for doping violation

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Former World Championship bronze medalist in the 10,000m and current 10 km road race world record-holder, Rhonex Kipruto, was banned for six years on Wednesday for doping.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said the decision was reached after a disciplinary tribunal ruled that irregularities found in Kipruto’s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) were due to doping.

"Having reviewed and considered carefully the totality of the Athlete's evidence, the Panel is comfortably satisfied that (the AIU) has discharged its burden of proof and established that the Athlete has committed an ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation),” the disciplinary tribunal concluded.

The tribunal concluded that the "cause for the abnormalities in the ABP is more likely to be due to blood manipulation.”

It added that there was "no other plausible explanation" for the abnormal values.

The 24-year-old Kenyan was provisionally suspended on May 11 last year under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) after the irregularities were detected.

Kipruto denied the charge, arguing that his ABP abnormalities were due to natural and specific characteristics of his body, various medical conditions and health conditions.

Kipruto won bronze at the 2019 World Championships and holds the world record in the 10 km road race.

He is banned until May 10, 2029, and some of the races he won will be disqualified. It is not the first time a Kenyan athlete has been banned for doping violations.

Notable cases include marathon runner Jemima Sumgong, who received a four-year ban in 2017, former 1500m world champion Asbel Kiprop, who was handed a four-year ban in 2019 and three-time Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo, who was banned for four years in 2016.