Kalalei latest Kenyan to fail doping test

Athens Classic Marathon champion Samuel Kalalei  has provisionally been suspended from all competitions by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for banned substance EPO.

Kalalei  who led a Kenyan 1,2,3,4,5  finish  last year at the Greek Capital, becomes the third Kenyan athlete to have been found in breach of anti-doping rules in under two weeks after Lucy Kabuu and Boniface Mweresa.

Sprinter Mweresa was dropped from the Team Kenya squad to Asaba, Nigeria for the 2018 African Championships after he failed doping test while 2016 Commonwealth 10,000m champion Lucy Kabuu, also suspended by the AIU for failing a dope test.

It follows the suspensions of Olympic and three-time World 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop and Hillary Yego with the latest wave of failed dope tests derailing Kenya’s bid to clear its named from the IAAF watchlist.

No Short Cuts

Athletics Kenya (AK) athletes’ representative and the Moskva 2013 World Championships, 3000m steeplechase title holder Milcah Chemos, told athletes that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with each athlete violating the anti-doping rules.

“It’s very disappointing to see a Kenyan every now and then being linked to a doping violation. What haven’t we done as Athletics Kenya and Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK)  in educating athletes against doping? We have used all means possible in the fight against doping but you will still find a Kenyan athlete in that list.

“We have not yet finished celebrating Team Kenya  who finished top of the medal table on Sunday at the just concluded Africa Championships  in Asaba Nigeria,” said a visibly angry Chemos, a two-time (2009 and 2011) World silver medallist.

Chemos, a mother of two, persuaded athletes to stop being greedy for quick money because the few spoilt eggs will hurt genuine Kenyan runners who will be seeking to make a name for themselves through the sport.

“My dear athletes you should know that there are investigators/ eyes  everywhere and there will be no short cuts to victory. The fight against doping beings with individual effort and also reporting anyone who is violating the anti- doping rules,” said Chemos.

The 2010 Continental Cup silver medallist added that there are investigators everywhere as she advocated for stiffer penalties’ for those found guilty.

Kenyan runners serving provisional suspension this year.

1. 01/08/2018 Lucy Kabuu Wangui KEN     Presence of a Prohibited Substance (Morphine) (Article 2.1)
2. 04/02/2018 Ruth Jebet    BRN     Presence of a Prohibited Substance (EPO) (Article 2.1)
3. 03/02/2018 Asbel Kiprop KEN     Presence of a Prohibited Substance (EPO) (Article 2.1)
4. 04/06/2018 Samuel Kalalei KEN     Presence of a Prohibited Substance (EPO) (Article 2.1)
5. 15/06/2018 Eliud Magut KEN     Presence of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone) (Article 2.1)      4 years ineligibility from 14 July 2017 DQ results: 23 April 2017 to 14 July 2017 Final DT Decision