In a startling development, Titus Ekiru, a highly-acclaimed marathon champion, has been slapped with a ten-year suspension from the world of athletics due to his involvement in a major doping controversy. Ekiru, widely acknowledged as the sixth-fastest marathon runner in history, found himself embroiled in a precarious situation after failing two separate urine tests for banned substances in 2021, coinciding with his triumphs in the Milan and Abu Dhabi Marathons.
In an ongoing saga within the Ingebrigtsen family, the trio of Norwegian athlete brothers finds themselves entangled in a protracted feud with their patriarch and former coach, Gjert Ingebrigtsen. Recent events have seen this internal discord escalate to new heights, with the Norwegian Athletics Association vetoing Gjert's participation in upcoming marquee events, such as the World Indoor Athletics Championships and the Paris Olympics. This development follows Gjert's earlier withdrawal from mentoring his sons, Jakob, Filip, and Henrik, citing health concerns.
It's been an eventful four-year interval since the internationally renowned marathon sensation, Eliud Kipchoge, graced the bustling streets of Shanghai. Hailing from Kenya and a double Olympic gold medalist, Kipchoge is universally acclaimed as the preeminent marathon runner of our era. He continues to display unwavering dedication in his mission to disseminate the ardor for running and engage with local running enthusiasts.
The contest for medals at the sharp end of the 40th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 29 promises both exciting and fast competition. Last year’s men’s champion Brimin Misoi renews his rivalry with runner-up Samwel Mailu, the latter arriving in Frankfurt with recent outstanding form. Among the challengers to both Kenyans should be Guye Adola. The Ethiopian has a personal best of 2:03:46 which makes him among the fastest ever lining up for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.
Melbourne, Australia; 11 October 2023 - With the Olympic and Paralympic Games looming close, competition is set to sizzle across the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Summer Season, with the calendar of events released by Athletics Australia today.
In a surprising turn of events, Ethiopian long-distance legend Kenenisa Bekele has severed his ties with the NN Running team after over two decades of being part of their stable, marking the end of an era. Bekele, the first and only athlete to achieve the remarkable feat of being crowned an Olympic, World Outdoor, World Indoor, and World Cross Country champion, has left behind his long-standing partnership with the team that also manages Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge.
Buze Diriba displayed a phenomenal performance at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, significantly surpassing her personal best with an astounding time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 11 seconds. Diriba, along with her compatriots Waganesh Mekasha, Afera Godfay, and Amid Jemal, closely shadowed the pacemaker for the initial 30 kilometers, passing the halfway point in a remarkable 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 1 second. While Mekasha experienced a fuel bottle mishap at the 30-kilometer mark, Diriba's confidence only grew as the finish line drew near.
A member of the board from the United States representing the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Victor Okorie, has strongly advised Divine Oduduru, a prominent sprinter, to initiate an appeal against the six-year ban handed down by World Athletics. Victor Okorie, who serves as AFN's Director of Performance, conveyed his perspective to The Guardian, emphasizing the paucity of substantial evidence to substantiate any doping allegations against Oduduru, thus making a compelling case for his exoneration.
In an electrifying showcase of sporting prowess, Ethiopia's Meseret Belete and Kenya's Joshua Belet clinched victory at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon this past Sunday. The esteemed World Athletics Platinum Label road race witnessed exceptional performances, with Belete clocking in at 2:18:21 and Belet finishing in a remarkable 2:04:18. These two extraordinary athletes now hold the distinction of achieving the third-fastest winning times ever witnessed in the historic Dutch capital.
Following a remarkable display at the Chicago Marathon, where he broke the 2:01 barrier with a record-setting time of 2:00:35, speculation has arisen regarding Kelvin Kiptum's inclination toward taking on the formidable sub-two-hour marathon challenge.
