Rising long-distance star Faith Chepkoech has received a three-year suspension from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after admitting to using a banned substance. The 21-year-old athlete tested positive for recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) during an out-of-competition test conducted in Iten, Kenya, on July 26, 2024. EPO is known for its ability to boost endurance and enhance athletic performance.
The AIU imposed a provisional suspension on Chepkoech on September 6, 2024, shortly after receiving the positive test results. In an interview with AIU officials on September 13, she disclosed that she had been injected with an unknown substance by an unidentified individual just days before the test.
This suspension is a significant blow to Chepkoech, who was having an impressive year in 2024, including notable victories at the Castellón 10K in Spain and the TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in the United States in August.
After admitting her guilt, she signed an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences form on September 22, resulting in a one-year reduction of the mandatory four-year ban, bringing her total suspension to three years. Consequently, all her results since July 26, 2024, have been nullified, stripping her of titles, awards, and prize money.
The AIU reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on doping, emphasizing that such violations will not go unpunished. “The Athlete admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the asserted period of Ineligibility.
The AIU confirms a period of Ineligibility of three (3) years commencing on September 6, 2024,” the organization stated in its ruling. It clarified that EPO is a prohibited substance at all times, and while the standard penalty is four years, Chepkoech’s early admission allowed for a one-year reduction. She opted to waive her right to a tribunal hearing, allowing the case to conclude swiftly.
