Former World Marathon No. 1 Banned for Seven Years The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced a seven-year ban for former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich. This ban is a result of Kiprotich’s doping violations. Kiprotich was provisionally suspended in March 2022 after testing positive for the banned substance Trimetazidine. The AIU subsequently charged him with two violations of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. The AIU Disciplinary Tribunal found Kiprotich guilty of both charges and imposed a seven-year ban on him, effective from June 13, 2022. This means that Kiprotich will not be able to compete in any sanctioned athletics events until June 12, 2029. Kiprotich’s ban marks a significant blow to the athletics community. He was once considered one of the greatest marathoners of all time, having set the world marathon record of 2:03:23 at the 2013 Berlin Marathon. The AIU’s decision sends a clear message that doping will not be tolerated in athletics. By imposing a significant ban on Kiprotich, the AIU is protecting the integrity of the sport and deterring other athletes from violating anti-doping rules. This ban is a reminder that athletes have a responsibility to compete fairly and drug-free. The use of performance-enhancing substances undermines the principles of fair play and damages the reputation of athletics. The AIU will continue to work diligently to detect and punish doping in athletics. Athletes who choose to cheat will face serious consequences, as demonstrated by this recent ban on Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich.Lawrence Cherono Faces Seven-Year Ban for Doping ViolationsLawrence Cherono Faces Seven-Year Ban for Doping Violations Elite marathon runner Lawrence Cherono has been banned from competition for seven years after admitting to multiple anti-doping rule violations. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) imposed the suspension on Wednesday. Cherono tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine in May 2022. Initially, he claimed to have ingested an unknown substance from a doctor. Later, he accused his training colleagues of sabotaging him out of “jealousy.” However, in a written statement, Cherono acknowledged that his wife had given him trimetazidine by mistake instead of painkillers he had requested to alleviate muscle pain. Investigations by the AIU uncovered inconsistencies in Cherono’s claims, leading him to admit the violations and accept the ban. A two-time major marathon winner, Cherono is known for his victories in the prestigious Boston and Chicago marathons in 2019. His suspension will run from July 16, 2022, the date of his provisional ban.Former world marathon number one runner Brigid Kosgei has been handed a seven-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for doping violations. The AIU announced on Tuesday that Kosgei had tested positive for trimetazidine, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in an out-of-competition test on October 13, 2022. Kosgei has denied the charges and said she will appeal the ban. She has 30 days to do so. The AIU said that Kosgei’s ban will be backdated to October 14, 2022, the date she was provisionally suspended. Kosgei, 29, is one of the most successful marathon runners in history. She has won the London Marathon three times, the Chicago Marathon twice, and the Tokyo Marathon once. She set the world record for the marathon in 2019 with a time of 2:14:04. Kosgei’s ban is a major blow to the sport of athletics. She was one of the favorites to win the gold medal in the marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.