Reuben Kipyego provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures

Kenyan marathoner Reuben Kiprop Kipyego has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for multiple cases of whereabouts failures.

The 27-year-old, as per the Tuesday afternoon announcement, has contravened Article 2.4 of the WADA World Anti-Doping Code, and is now suspended temporarily from participating in any competition or activity in Athletics, prior to a final decision at a hearing conducted under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, or the Integrity Code of Conduct.

A whereabouts failure for athletes results from failing to submit testing location (filling failure) or failing to avail themselves for an impromptu anti-doping test at their designated location corresponding to the 60-minute time slot (missed test).

Under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, any combination of 3 whereabouts failures (Filing Failure and/or Missed Test) within a period of 12 months constitute an anti-doping rule violation, for which the applicable sanction is 2 years' ineligibility, subject to a reduction to a minimum of 1 year depending on your degree of fault.

The 2021 Generali Milano Marathon champion last ran a marathon in 2022 - a third placed finish at the NN Rotterdam Marathon - and now joins a long list of Kenyan athletes still under provisional suspension for varying anti-doping allegations.

Kipyego settles for bronze at Rotterdam Marathon

The list includes: Elias Kiprono Kemei, Beatrice Toroitich, Rhonex Kipruto, Purity Changwony, Lawrence Cherono, Ibrahim Mukunga, Salina Jebet, Nicholas Mboroto and Jackline Wambui.

Rodgers Kwemoi, who was in the initial list, was on 17 May banned for six years for suspected blood doping 18 times, and disqualified from Olympics and world championships races.