Kenya’s Emmaculate Anyango Achol, one of the fastest women in history over 10 kilometers, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for banned substances.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced that Anyango tested positive for testosterone and EPO, substances prohibited in athletics. The suspension will remain in place until the case is adjudicated. If found guilty, the 24-year-old could face a ban of up to four years from competition.
Anyango, considered one of Kenya’s brightest young talents, rose to prominence in 2023 after her victory at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships. She made headlines again earlier this year when she nearly broke the 10km world record in Valencia, recording an impressive time of 28:57. This effort was faster than the previous world record of 29:14, held by Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw. Anyango finished second in the race behind fellow Kenyan Agnes Ngetich, who set a new world record of 28:46, making them the only two women to ever run under 29 minutes for the distance.
In March, Anyango secured her place in Kenya’s squad for the 2024 World Cross Country Championships in Serbia after a second-place finish at the national trials. She went on to finish fourth in the individual race at the championships, contributing to Kenya’s gold in the team event. Anyango also earned runner-up spots at the BAA 5km in Boston and the TCS World 10km in Bengaluru, India, during the season.
Despite these successes, Anyango narrowly missed out on selection for Kenya’s Olympic team after finishing sixth in the 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic, setting a personal best of 30:06.43.
The doping allegations represent a significant blow to her career, and the outcome of the AIU’s investigation will determine her future in the sport.
