Diana Kipyokei may lose 2021 Boston Marathon title over banned substance

Diana Kipyokei may very well be stripped of her victory on the 2021 Boston Marathon after she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for utilizing a banned substance.

Kipyokei and Kenyan compatriot Betty Wilson Lempus have been discovered to have used the banned substance triamcinolone acetonide, the AIU mentioned Friday. Each runners have additionally been charged with obstructing the AIU’s investigation by offering false data or documentation.

“After intensive investigations, the AIU has provisionally suspended two Kenyan marathoners — Diana Kipyokei and Betty Wilson Lempus — and charged them with numerous breaches of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Guidelines,” the AIU mentioned in a press release. “These alleged anti-doping rule violations stem from probes into the knowledge offered by the athletes to clarify Opposed Analytical Findings (AAF) for metabolites of triamcinolone acetonide in samples.”

Kipyokei’s pattern was taken after her victory in Boston final October. The 28-year-old had gained Boston, held within the fall for the primary time in its 125-year historical past as a result of coronavirus pandemic, by 23 seconds over 2017 winner Edna Kiplagat.

Lempus, 31, was examined following her win on the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris in September 2021.

Triamcinolone acetonide, a substance prohibited in-competition when administered in sure methods, falls underneath the banned class of glucocorticoids, generally used as therapeutic substances in sports activities. Their use is permitted if athletes can produce an exemption or proof that administration will not be by a prohibited route.

The most recent suspensions imply that 10 Kenyan athletes have examined optimistic for triamcinolone acetonide since 2011. Solely two athletes from exterior Kenya have returned optimistic checks for the substance throughout the identical interval.

On Thursday, the AIU banned Kenyan marathoner Mark Kangogo for 3 years for the use for norandrosterone and triamcinolone acetonide.

Reuters and The Related Press contributed to this report.