Since July 2017, Elijah Manangoi has been the only man to defeat fellow Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot over 1500m, on a total of 5 occasions. Cheruiyot won the 2019 world title and is the Olympic favorite.
By Sam Burke, for Runner’s Tribe
But now, the performances of Manangoi will forever be mistrusted. The 2017 world 1500m champion, 2018 Commonwealth 1500m champion, and winner of multiple Diamond League 1500m races, became the latest Kenyan to be suspended over anti-doping violations.
Manangoi was one of four Kenyan runners sanctioned for various anti-doping violations, the others being Patrick Siele, Kenneth Kiprop Kipkemoi and Mercy Jerotich Kibarus, all marathon runners.
Manangoi has been provisionally suspended in a case of whereabouts failures. A whereabouts violation constitutes of any combination of three missed tests or filing failures in a 12-month period, according to the World Athletics anti-doping rules. Athletes must provide doping officials with their whereabouts, or locations to be available for out-of-competition testing. Three missed tests in a 12-month span can lead to a suspension, even if an athlete has never tested positive.
The Athletics Integrity Unit did not disclose details about Manangoi’s case, such as if or when he has a hearing to determine anything beyond the provisional ban.
Patrick Siele, a 24-year-old marathon runner, was provisionally suspended for evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection. His best finish at an event was sixth in last year’s Shanghai International Marathon in a personal best time of 2:10:42.
Manangoi and Siele were handed provisional suspensions. However, Kipkemoi and Kibarus were banned by the AIU after they tested positive for prohibited substances.
Kipkemoi was banned for two years for testing positive for Terbutaline, with his ban backdated to February 25.
Kibarus, has been banned for 8 years, after testing positive for Norandrosterone. Kibarus won the 2018 Sydney Marathon, her career is now over.
Good riddance to the lot.
