Kenyan Marathoner Geoffrey Yegon suspended for doping

Kenyan athlete Geoffrey Yegon has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for a banned substance.

According to a statement from AIU, the 36-year-old tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide, a substance often used by athletes to cut weight while maintaining strength.

Yegon’s last competitive race was on December 1, 2023, where he won the Singapore Marathon with a time of 2:16:06.

This victory marked his first win in seven years, following his triumph at the Goteborg Half Marathon in Sweden in 2017, where he clocked 1:00:19.

He has also previously won the Venlo Half Marathon and The Hague City Half Marathon in 2016.

Yegon is now required to respond to the doping charge, after which the disciplinary process will proceed.

His case highlights the ongoing doping problem in Kenyan athletics, especially considering that he is not a widely recognized name in the country’s running scene.