Kenyan athlete Reuben Kiprop Kipyego has received a ban from the AIU for failing to comply with regulations.
He has been handed a significant setback in his athletic career receiving a two-year ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for whereabouts failures.
The ban comes after Kipyego failed to comply with the AIU’s regulations on providing accurate and timely information on his whereabouts, leading to three missed tests within a twelve-month period.
The series of violations began on 8 September 2023, when Kipyego missed his first test.
According to the AIU, Kipyego had reported that he would be available for testing at an address in Kaptagat during a specific 60-minute window between 08:00 and 09:00.
However, when the Doping Control Officer (DCO) arrived at the location, they were informed that Kipyego had left the address two weeks prior and was expected to return soon.
Despite the AIU’s request for an explanation, Kipyego did not seek an administrative review of the missed test.
The second missed test occurred on 5 January 2024, under similar circumstances.
The DCO arrived at an address in Kapsabet during Kipyego’s designated 60-minute window from 20:00 to 21:00, only to be told by the landlord that the athlete no longer resided there.
Again Kipyego did not provide any justification or request a review.
The final missed test happened on 12 March, when Kipyego had indicated he would be at an overnight accommodation address in Lessos on the previous day.
However, when the DCO arrived, a third party informed them that Kipyego had relocated to a different address without updating his whereabouts information.
Despite extensions given to the athlete to defend his position, no explanation was received.
Following these incidents, the AIU provisionally suspended Kipyego on 27 May 2024 and issued a Notice of Allegation of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
Kipyego was given until 4 June 2024 to provide a detailed written explanation but failed to respond. The AIU extended the deadline to 18 June 2024, but again received no reply.
“On the basis that the Athlete is deemed to have admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Rule 2.4 ADR. A period of Ineligibility of two (2) years commencing on 27 May 2024 (the date of Provisional Suspension); and disqualification of the Athlete’s results since 12 March 2024, with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money,” the AIU ruling stated.
