It is a long way from 2013-14 when Kenyan Wilson Kipsang was named the world’s strongest marathoner for winning three majors and setting a world record of 2h 3′ 23″ in Berlin, although he remained undefeated for only one year. In fact, back in January, Kipsang was suspended for failing to show up for several doping controls, and now the sentence has come: a 4-year disqualification from competitions.
The charges
Kipsang was not technically found positive for doping: however, he did not show up for routine and random testing, in one case even citing the excuse that he was unable to take part because he was involved in a car accident that turned out to be nonexistent (or rather: the photographic evidence attached as proof by Kipsang referred to an accident that occurred on a different date than the one he claimed he was unable to show up for testing).
Disqualification kicks in when an athlete fails to show up for testing at least three times within a 12-month period. In the specific case, Kipsang failed to show up between April 2018 and May 2019 four times, making it impossible for World Athletics judges not to disqualify him.
He is not the only
The list of Kenyan athletes disqualified for doping unfortunately counts not only Kipsang: with him is also 2008 Olympic 1500 champion Asbel Kiprop, the winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons Rita Jeptoo And the gold medalist in marathon at the 2016 Olympics Jemima Sumgong, also disqualified for four years.