Kenya’s world 800m bronze medalist, Kipyegon Bett, has tested positive for the banned blood booster erythropoeitin (EPO). He is facing a possible 4-year ban.
AK executive committee member, Barnabas Korir, said the body received notification from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Thursday that the 20-year-old had submitted a positive sample.
“We have kicked off due process, accorded to every athlete as per the rules set by AIU. If the second test confirms the first one, then the athlete will have to face full consequences of the (anti-doping) law,” he said.
If his positive test is confirmed, Bett will face a ban. He is already provisionally suspended for failing to submit to sample collection on 15 August.
The IAAF has ruled that athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Belarus and Ukraine will be tested three times in the 10 months prior to the World Championships and Olympic Games, with these nations considered to be most at risk of doping.
