Kenya’s Felix Kipchumba Korir and Emmanuel Saina have been handed three-year bans each by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for committing anti-doping rule violations.
In a statement, the AIU revealed that the two marathoners tested positive for the prohibited substance Norandrosterone in out-of-competition tests carried out last month.
Norandrosterone is prohibited under the Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and is a non-specified substance prohibited at all times.
The statement disclosed that Korir’s sample which was provided in Kapsabet on August 17 after was taken for analysis at the WADA accredited lab in Lausanne, Switzerland whereby the sample tested positive for the presence of 19-Norandrosterone
Korir who won the Nanjing Marathon in 2018 admitted to the offence and thus his ban was reduced by a year.
“On 22 September 2022, the Athlete returned a signed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form confirming that he admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the asserted period of Ineligibility.
“The Athlete shall therefore receive a one (1) year reduction in the asserted period of ineligibility pursuant to Rule 10.8.1 based on an early admission and acceptance of sanction.
Korir has also competed in other races including the Istanbul, Padova and Dakar Marathons.
On his part, Saina’s sample was taken on August 18 in Eldoret where upon being examined in WADA laboratory in Lausanne it also turned positive for the banned substance.
Just like Korir, Saina’s ban was reduced to three years after he admitted the offence.
“a period of Ineligibility of three (3) years commencing on 9 September 2022 (the date of Provisional Suspension)” read the statement.
Saina won the Buenos Aires Marathon in 2018 and has also competed in Rotterdam and Milano Marathons.
The duo joins a long list of Kenyan athletes who have already been suspended or banned this year for anti-doping violation.