Joshua Belet among 33 sportspersons provisionally suspended for doping

2023 Amsterdam Marathon champion Joshua Belet is among a group of 33 sportspersons who have been provisionally suspended by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya for various anti-doping infringements.

The 26-year-old, as per a report first published by Nation Sport on Tuesday evening, has been suspended for the presence or use of prohibited substances - Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, Testosterone, Adiol, Pregnanediol, Androsterone and Etiocholanolone.

The updated list, which is still not available on the ADAK website, is also reported to include 26 other athletes, plus high-profile basketballers and rugby players.

Among the rugby players involved are Kenya Commercial Bank’s Brian Wahinya and Kenya Harlequin duo Zeden Lutomia and Charlton Mokua, who have all been suspended for the presence or use of prohibited substance - Cannabinoid, which is linked to Cannabis.

As for basketball, a shocking name on the list is Kenya Morans player Albert Odero, currently playing for Kenyan side Nairobi City Thunder, who has also been suspended for the presence of cannabinoids.

He is however not the only Thunder player on the list, as James Mwangi (presence of stimulant - methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and Alex Ramazani (presence of cannabinoids) make up the three basketballers suspended.

On players flagged for the use of cannabinoids, ADAK legal officer Bildad Rogoncho told Nation: “If they smoked cannabis sativa just before the matches then that is a straight two-year ban. However, if they took it out-of-competition and can prove that they didn’t use it for performance enhancement, then they will get three months.”

The development comes as ADAK has also announced that up to 16 cases have been completed, with varying rulings set to be announced.

Samuel Imeta among athletes provisionally suspended by ADAK for doping violations

Names known so far: Joshua Belet, Dorcas Jepchumba Kimeli, David Kiprotich Bett, Duke Ogoti, Brian Wahinya, Charlton Mokua, Albert Odero, Joan Jeruto, Zeden Lutomia, Alex Ramazani, James Mwangi.