Ronald Kimeli Kurgat Banned for 6 Years, Days after Ruth Chepng’etich’s Suspension
- Two Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in relation to doping offences
- Ronald Kimeli, who won the Standard Chartered Marathon last year, has been handed a lengthy ban after failing to respond to the allegations
- This comes after women's marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng'etich was handed a provisional suspension last week
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Kenyan runner Ronald Kimeli Kurgat has been handed a lengthy ban for doping offences as the country's woes continue to deepen.
Source: UGC
The ban comes a few days after Ruth Chepng'etich was put on provisional suspension.
Chepng'etich broke the women's world record last year in Chicago, taking almost two minutes off the previous record.
She was found with hydrochlorothiazide, a masking agent which is strictly prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
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An athlete's sample is supposed to have 20 ng/mL or lower in urine, but Chepng'etich's sample had 3,800 ng/mL.
Why has Ronald Kimeli been banned?
Kimeli has been handed the six-year ban after Triamcinolone acetonide was found in his urine sample.
The test was taken on October 27, 2024, during the Standard Chartered Marathon in Nairobi, which Kurgat won.
The Athletic Integrity Unit (AIU) revealed that the 39-year-old did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), which would have allowed him to have the banned substance in his sample.
Kurgat was informed of the finding on December 4 but failed to respond to the allegation by the set deadline of December 11.
He later provided another urine sample on December 15 after finishing third at the Hainan Danzhou Marathon in China.
Kurgat refuses to respond
AIU extended its deadline to get a response from Kurgat, including talking to him via a phone call and advised to issue one no later than January 13.
His test from the China marathon once again revealed the findings of Triamcinolone acetonide, making it the second adverse analytical finding. Once again, he did not have a TUE.
AIU extended its deadline almost three times, including seeking Athletics Kenya's help to get Kurgat's response, but to no avail. The last window was on March 19.
After failing to get a response, AIU concluded that Kurgat had indeed committed the doping violations.
The anti-doping body informed Kurgat of the six-year ban and invited him to exercise his right to appeal and request a hearing. Kurgat once again failed to respond, which AIU interprets as an athlete's acceptance of the charge and consequences.
"He had failed to respond to the charge within the given deadline and, by operation of Rule 8.5.2(f) ADR, was therefore deemed to have (i) waived his right to a hearing, (ii) admitted the anti-doping rule violations, and (iii) accepted the consequences set out in the notice of charge," read part of the statement.
"He had until 15 July 2025, should he wish to return a completed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form enclosed with the Charge, to benefit from a one (1)-year reduction under Rule 10.8.1 ADR, and that, if he failed to do so, then the AIU would proceed by issuing a final decision in his case, including imposing a six (6)-year period of Ineligibility."
His results from the Standard Chartered Marathon and the Hainan Danzhou Marathon were disqualified.
What does Triamcinolone acetonide do?
Triamcinolone acetonide is a medicine used to treat inflammation. It can be ingested either orally, injected, or rectally.
However, the WADA guidelines prohibit it because it helps athletes train harder and recover faster. A TUE is handed when an athlete has a legitimate medical reason to use it.
Charles Kipkkurui Langat suspended
AIU has also added another suspension for Charles Kipkkurui Langat after advanced levels of testosterone were found in his sample.
Langat is currently serving a two-year ban for the presence of Furosemide, which is a masking agent.
Source: Twitter
Why Ruth Chepng'etich's ban will stand
In a separate report, we explained why Chepng'etich's world record will stand despite the doping suspension.
The 2019 world champion became the first woman to run a marathon under 2 hours, 10 minutes at the Chicago Marathon last year.
However, after her suspension and looming ban, there have been fears that her world record might be rescinded.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
