Doping menace claims Kenya's fast-rising marathoner
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 15.04.25. | 12:53
The banned substance was detected in a urine sample collected during in-competition testing on October 6, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal
Kenyan long-distance runner, Emmanuel Kipchumba Kemboi, has been handed a two-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
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The AIU confirmed on Monday, 7 April, that Kemboi tested positive for Triamcinolone acetonide, a glucocorticoid listed under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2024 Prohibited List.
The banned substance was detected in a urine sample collected during in-competition testing on October 6, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal.
The adverse finding was reported by WADA’s accredited laboratory in Lisbon on December 17, 2024, and upon review, the AIU established that Kemboi did not possess a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), and there was no evidence of accidental ingestion or a testing error.
Kemboi later admitted to the use of the substance.
On April 2, 2025, he formally wrote to the AIU confessing to the violation, and five days later, he signed an “Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences” form.
This is his first anti-doping offense, and no evidence was presented to suggest the violation was intentional.
As a result, Kemboi has been banned from competition for two years, effective from April 7, 2025, and all his results from October 6, 2024, are disqualified. This includes forfeiture of titles, medals, prize money, and appearance fees.
This decision comes barely weeks after he won the 2025 Riyadh Marathon on Sunday, 8 March, with a time of 2:08:32, narrowly edging out Ethiopian runners Abe Gashahun Tilahun and Abebaw Muniye Dessie.
That victory and any accolades from it will now be annulled due to the disqualification of his results dating back to October.
Kemboi, who also claimed victory at the 2022 Chemususu Dam Half Marathon, has been one of Kenya’s promising distance runners.
His fall from grace adds to the growing list of Kenyan athletes facing doping sanctions, further intensifying scrutiny on the country’s anti-doping systems and athlete support structures.
The AIU reiterated that Triamcinolone acetonide is prohibited in-competition when administered via injection, oral, or rectal routes and urged athletes to remain vigilant about the medications and substances they use.
Kemboi will be eligible to return to competition on April 7, 2027.
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