Athletics

Kenyan athletes Rodgers Kwemoi and Josphat Kipkemboi Kemei banned for doping violations

Rodgers Kwemoi © Toronto Sun

By Rama Mohammed | Saturday, May 18, 2024

Rodgers Kwemoi and Josphat Kipkemboi have been banned for six and five years respectively by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has issued bans to two Kenyan long-distance runners, Rodgers Kwemoi and Josphat Kipkemboi Kemei, for multiple doping violations.

Rodgers Kwemoi has received a six-year ban after being found guilty of extensive blood doping. His Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) showed 18 instances of blood doping from July 2016 to September 2022. This sophisticated and prolonged scheme significantly affected his performance, including during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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The tribunal highlighted that such actions required deliberate intent and expert assistance. As a result, Kwemoi has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved between July 18, 2016, and August 8, 2023, leading to the forfeiture of medals, titles, and prize money. In addition, Kwemoi must pay $3,000 towards the AIU's costs.

Josphat Kipkemboi Kemei has been handed a five-year ban for using banned substances, including metabolites of testosterone and Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA). These violations were detected in out-of-competition tests in 2024, following an initial negative test in April 2023.

The AIU found that Kemei's violations were frequent and severe. Despite his defense, he could not prove the unintentional nature of his actions. Kemei's prompt admission and acceptance of the charges reduced his initial six-year ban to five years. All his competitive results since April 16, 2023, have been annulled, resulting in the loss of medals, titles, and prize money.