Josephine Chepkoech: Another Kenyan Athlete Handed Doping Ban
The ban takes effect from May 7, 2024, and her results from February 18, 2024, have been nullified as a result.
Marvin Chege 
Kenyan marathoner and former Geneva marathon champion, Josephine Chepkoech, has been handed a seven-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
The ban takes effect from May 7, 2024, and her results from February 18, 2024, have been nullified as a result.
The marathoner was found guilty of using the prohibited substance testosterone, with the ban coming as a result of her second doping infraction, involving the prohibited substance testosterone during the Seville marathon held on February 18, 2024, whereby her results from the race were disqualified.
Kenyan half-distance runner Josephine Chepkoech during a past race. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
Chepkoech was provisionally suspended by the AIU on May 9, 2024, after she was served with a Notice of Allegation for violating Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 of its anti-doping regulations.
The AIU explained that on February 18, Chepkoech provided a urine sample during her competition at the Seville Marathon where she finished second in the race and after her urine was tested, it was found to have substances banned by the World Athletics Anti-doping Agency.
It was further noted that the athlete was not exempted from the use of the substance, popularly known as the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
The athlete accepted the ruling, however, it was the second time she had found herself on the wrong side of the law, having violated the anti-doping rules. She had previously served a period of ineligibility for two years from 2015 to 2017.
The athlete was required to serve a ban of eight years but after she accepted the ruling and responded in good time, she will serve the ban for seven years.
"The AIU has banned Josephine Chepkoech (Kenya) for 7 years from 7 May 2024, for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone). DQ results from 18 February 2024," announced AIU on X.
Chepkoech made her marathon debut in 2018 at the Nairobi Marathon, dominating the women's race and winning in a time of 2:33:11. Last season, she competed in the Chengdu Marathon and ended up finishing fifth.
She has enjoyed a great marathon running career after her debut, where she finished second in both the 2019 Sydney Marathon and Zurich Marathon. In 2020, she finished fourth in the Zurich Marathon before her two marathons in 2023 and 2024.
Chepkoech's ban comes almost two weeks after former World Under-20 champion Rodgers Kwemoi was handed a six-year suspension after the Istanbul Half Marathon winner was found guilty of breaching anti-doping rules.
Kwemoi, a rising star in road running, had represented Kenya in numerous events, including the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
