Two-time Rotterdam marathon winner Marius Kipserem has been banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for the banned substance EPO.
Kipserem becomes the seventh Kenyan to be banned this week for doping rules violations joining the likes of 2021 Boston Marathon champion, Diana Kipyokei and Betty Wilson Lempus, who were suspended for using banned substances.
Others include Ibrahim Mukunga and Kenneth Kiprop Renju, Mark Kangongo and Philip Kacheran.
According to the AIU, Kipserem's sample reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the sample based on the presence of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) on September 20. He was notified of the positive test two days later.
On September 28, the athlete returned a dated but unsigned Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.
He was later interviewed, on October 4, but maintained his denials of doping and that he had no explanation for how the EPO had been detected in the sample.
On October 11, the athlete wrote to the AIU stating that, due to technical difficulty, he was unable to return the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form properly signed. The athlete expressly confirmed in writing that he admitted to the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the consequences.
Meanwhile, Mukunga was nabbed for using Norandrosterone while Renju was banned for using Methasterone.
Close to 30 Kenyan athletes have been flagged down for various doping offences, putting the country, already in Category 'A' of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) watchlist, in more jeopardy.
