Reuben Kipyego banned for two years

Kenyan marathoner Reuben Kiprop Kipyego has received a two-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for whereabouts failure.

The 27-year-old had been provisionally suspended in May for three Whereabouts Failures in twelve months beginning on 8 September 2023.

The first missed test, alternatively a Filing Failure was recorded on 8 September 2023. The next one was recorded on 5 January 2024 while the third and final missed test was on 12 March 2024.

In the first incidence, records show his Whereabouts information stated that he would be at an address in Kaptagat during his 60-minute timeslot between 08:00 and 09:00.

A Doping Control Officer (DCO) arrived at the Kaptagat Address at 08:00 on 8 September 2023 and was informed that the Athlete had returned home approximately two weeks prior but was expected to return to the Kaptagat Address any day. AIU wrote to the Athlete requesting his explanation but Kipyego did not request for an administrative review.

A similar case was witnessed for the second missed test, the DCO arriving at an address in Kapsabet on 5 January 2024 during his 60-minute time slot between 20:00-21:00 only to be informed by the landlord that the Athlete was no longer staying at that address.

As for the third violation, the athlete had indicated an overnight accommodation address for 11 March 2024 in Lessos, but the DCO, on arrival was informed by a third party that the Athlete had left the Lessos Address and relocated to a different address. There was no explanation despite efforts by relevant authorities including an extension period for the athlete to defend his position.

“On the basis that the Athlete is deemed to have admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Rule 2.4 ADR. A period of Ineligibility of two (2) years commencing on 27 May 2024 (the date of Provisional Suspension); and disqualification of the Athlete’s results since 12 March 2024, with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money,” the AIU ruling reads in part.

The athlete has, however, not been in action since his third-place finish at the 2022 NN Marathon Rotterdam.

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