Sheila Chelangat faces a temporary ban after testing positive for Erythropoietin.
Kenyan long-distance runner Sheila Chelangat has been hit with a provisional suspension after testing positive for Erythropoietin, a banned substance that boosts stamina by increasing red blood cell production. The news was confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), dealing another blow to Kenya’s global athletics reputation.
Chelangat had just bounced back from a period of injuries and low performance. Earlier this year, she showed signs of regaining her top form by finishing second at the Hong Kong Half Marathon with a time of 1:08:06. She followed that with another strong second-place run at the Istanbul Half Marathon on April 27, clocking 1:06:13.
Another Blow for Kenyan Athletics
The suspension of Chelangat comes shortly after former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie was also provisionally banned for skipping or failing to submit to a doping test. These back-to-back cases have sparked more concern over the growing number of Kenyan athletes facing doping allegations.
Chelangat, a two-time national cross-country champion, had been seen as one of the hopefuls for Kenya’s future in women’s long-distance running. But this latest development has cast doubt on her achievements and adds pressure on authorities to tighten anti-doping efforts.
More updates are expected as investigations continue.
