Kenyan marathoner Ekiru slapped with 10-year doping ban

Ekiru has been serving a provisional suspension imposed by AIU after his samples tested positive twice; triamcinolone acetonide during the Milano Marathon in May 2021 and pethidine at the Abu Dhabi Marathon in November 2021 where the athlete triumphed in both races.

According to AIU, Ekiru has also been charged with two counts of Tampering or attempted Tampering with a doping control where he is accused of colluding with a senior doctor at a hospital in Nandi County to forge medical records.

AIU chair David Howman said the AIU acquired hospital information which showed discrepancies in Ekiru’s explanations and supporting documentation which he contended stemmed from prescribed medications for injury.

According to Howman, deeper investigations unearthed Ekiru’s collusion with the senior doctor who claimed he injected the athlete with triamcinolone acetonide and pethidine as well as meperidine (pethidine) tablets (among other medication for acute pain in the athlete’s visits to the hospital which the doctor claimed were unrecorded since the athlete was attended early in the morning before the registration offices had opened.

Howman said they collaborated with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and medical officers at the facility to unearth the collusion.

“The outcome in this case is testimony to the collaboration between the AIU and ADAK, but even more so to the important co-operation from the most senior medical official of the Nandi County Government who provided significant evidence needed to ascertain the truth in this case and uncover the complicity of a senior doctor working in one of the County hospitals,” noted Howman.

AIU stated that Ekiru will serve a combined ban totaling to 10 years with the athlete’s results since 16 May 2021 disqualified, resulting in the forfeiture of all prizes and money.

Ekiru’s victory in the Milano Marathon would have made him the sixth-fastest marathoner of all time.