A month after smashing his own marathon world record, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge must not be very comfortable with the news surrounding him.
According to information revealed by the English newspaper the Times, the Kenyan Marius Kipserem, who had been one of his 41 hares during the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in 2019 in Vienna, has been suspended for doping.
The AIU has banned Kenya's Marius Kipserem for 3 years from 22 September 2022 for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (EPO).
DQ results from 17 August 2022.
Details here: https://t.co/Ay1S5pVqpt pic.twitter.com/SOaELLH013
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) October 20, 2022
Twice winner of the Rotterdam Marathon with a personal best of 2h04′11′', Kipserem admitted to having used a doping drug (EPO).
By recognizing the facts, the runner sees the pain go from four years to three years.
A suspension which comes ten days after that of Philemon Kacheran Lokedi, another Kipchoge hare, pinned on October 10 after being recognized as positive for exogenous testosterone from an out-of-competition sample taken on April 27, 2022. He too has admitted the facts and had his sentence reduced to three years.
Kacheran's personal best is 2h05′19′'.
The first Kipchoge Hare doping cap was revealed in 2020. It was Alex Korio Oloitiptip.
The latter had been suspended for two years for failing to comply with three doping controls: January 20, 2019, April 11, 2019 and July 19, 2019.
These three runners had participated in Eliud Kipchoge's virtual world record set in 2019 in Vienna during the Ineo 1:59 Challenge.
Kipchoge had traveled the 42.195 km in 1h59′40.2′'.
A record which had not been approved due to the particular characteristics (41 hares which took turns every 5 km and which protected Kipchoge from the wind).
On the other hand, on September 25, the best marathon runner of all time pulverized his own world record in 2h1′9′' in Berlin.
That's an improved record of almost 30 seconds.
At 37, the Kenyan dreams of becoming the first man to run a marathon under the legendary 2 hour mark.
Often criticized by the technological contribution and the famous Nike shoes, the image of Eliud Kipchoge is tarnished by the suspension of a third of his hares.
Doping in Kenya has become a “running gag”!!
🤮
When will @WorldAthletics say stop 🛑?
25th positive Kenyans since January 1st….@FFAthletisme @AFLD_France @wada_ama
— yohan durand (@durandyohan) October 20, 2022
More than 25 Kenyan runners have tested positive since January 1, 2022. A new suspension that makes Kenya the nation most affected by doping after Russia…