The Athletes Integrity Unity (AIU) has imposed a three-year ban on long-distance runner Faith Kipkoech after she tested positive for doping.
Sample collected from her in Iten on July this year revealed presence of recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO), a banned performance-enhancing drug.
The 21-year-old rising athlete admitted to the offence, earning a one-year reduction on the mandatory four-year ban.
In their statement, the AIU described Chepkoech’s admission:
“On 13 September 2024, the Athlete attended an interview with AIU representatives and, in summary, explained that she had been injected with an unknown substance by an unknown individual on 20 July 2024. The Athlete admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations in interview.”
Prior to the ban, she had an outstanding display on the tracks this year.
Chepkoech won the Women’s 5,000 metres title at the AK Weekend Meeting in January, followed by a victory at the Castellón 10K in Spain in February.
She won the TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in the United States in August
Earlier this year she finished eighth in the 10,000m event at the Kenyan Olympic Trials held in Eugene, Oregon.
AIU has now nullified, stripped her of titles, awards and prize money she won since July 26, 2024.
