Kenyan marathon winner Marius Kipserem to the doping cart

Kenyan marathoner Marius Kipserem has received a three-year suspension for his doping scandal.

In August, the runner who won the Rotterdam marathon twice was found to have the artificial hormone epo, which improves oxygen uptake. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which oversees the ethics of athletics, said that Kipserem had twice denied doping until he finally admitted to doping in October. With the confession, his ban was reduced by one year.

Kipserem’s last race was the Sydney marathon in September, where he finished sixth.

Kenya has been rocked by doping scandals since the summer. Kipserem was already the 16th athlete in the country who has broken AIU’s rules. The East African country was put on a separate watch list by the International Anti-Doping Agency Wada in 2016 due to repeated doping violations. The country was even threatened with an international ban seven years ago.

Source: BBC