In a startling turn of events, Kenyan marathoner Titus Ekiru has been handed a 10-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for his involvement in doping and attempting to obstruct the subsequent investigation.
The AIU made this announcement on Monday, revealing that the 31-year-old runner had tested positive for prohibited substances following his victorious performances in the Milan marathon in May 2021 and the Abu Dhabi event in November of the same year.
Kenya, renowned as an athletics powerhouse, has been grappling with a mounting series of doping cases, predominantly involving long-distance runners, which have cast a shadow on the nation’s athletic reputation. Over the past five years, nearly 70 athletes have faced bans due to doping-related violations.
In addition to the ban, the AIU has nullified Ekiru’s results from the Milan race onwards, and he is required to forfeit all associated awards and prizes.
His remarkable feat in Milan, where he achieved an extraordinary time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 57 seconds, ranking him as the sixth-fastest marathon runner in history, has now been stripped of this accolade.
Collusion with Medical Professional and a Powerful Message to Doping
The ban comes following a thorough investigation that exposed Ekiru’s attempts to obstruct the AIU’s inquiry. The investigation also unearthed collusion between Ekiru and a senior doctor at a Kenyan hospital, as confirmed by the AIU.
Initially, Ekiru had indicated his intention to contest the charges. However, when confronted with substantial evidence against him, the Kenyan athlete ultimately decided to discontinue his defense, as stated by the AIU.
Ekiru had tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide after his Milan triumph and for pethidine following his victory in Abu Dhabi.
He had maintained that the presence of these substances was a result of legitimate medical treatment for injuries. Nevertheless, the investigation uncovered collusion between Ekiru and a senior doctor, and it was determined that hospital documents provided to the AIU to explain the presence of the prohibited substances were falsified.
The AIU has called upon the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to refer the doctor in question to the Kenyan criminal authorities for further investigation.
AIU Chair David Howman emphasized the significance of this case, sending a powerful message to athletes involved in doping and those who support them: “There is nowhere to hide.”
Titus Ekiru’s ban is retroactive to his provisional suspension and will remain in effect until June 2032.
