The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended Kenyan long-distance runner Careen Cheptoek from competing in any athletics events for the next two years after she was found guilty of doping.
In a statement released on Monday, February 24, the AIU revealed that the 31-year-old athlete tested positive for Methylprednisolone, a banned substance. As a result, she has been barred from participating in professional races until her suspension period ends.
Methylprednisolone is a type of steroid commonly used to treat various medical conditions such as asthma, allergic reactions, arthritis, and certain inflammatory diseases affecting the bowel, blood, bones, or adrenal glands.
Despite its medical uses, the substance is prohibited in competitive sports when taken through injection, oral, or rectal administration, as per the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2024 Prohibited List.
How Cheptoek Was Caught
According to the AIU, investigations into the athlete began on December 15, 2024, during the Taipei City Marathon in Taiwan, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.
Before the event, Cheptoek provided a urine sample, which was later analyzed by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Tokyo, Japan.
After a month of testing, WADA confirmed that her sample contained traces of Methylprednisolone, indicating a doping violation.
Following the lab results, the AIU launched an official review under Article 5 of the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM).
After completing the review, the AIU concluded that Cheptoek had indeed violated anti-doping regulations and requested her to provide an explanation for the positive test before February 20, 2025.
Athlete’s Response and Subsequent Ban
On February 13, Cheptoek responded to the AIU through an email, admitting that she had been taking medication. However, she did not specify that the medicine contained Methylprednisolone.
After reviewing her explanation, the AIU determined that the medication she mentioned was not responsible for the positive test.
A week before her suspension was officially announced, Cheptoek wrote back to the AIU, stating that she had tried to recall any possible substances she might have consumed but could not come up with a clear explanation.
Since she was unable to justify the presence of the banned substance in her system, the AIU proceeded with her suspension.
In its final ruling, the AIU stated that there was no evidence to suggest that Cheptoek had intentionally used the banned substance. Therefore, her period of ineligibility was set at two years.
Additionally, all her results from December 15, 2024, onwards have been disqualified. This means she will lose any medals, titles, awards, points, prize money, or appearance fees earned during that period.
This latest case adds to the growing list of Kenyan athletes who have faced bans over doping allegations, raising concerns about the country’s reputation in global athletics.
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