NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Amman Marathon silver medalist Japhet Kipkorir of Kenya has been banned for four years after his sample tested positive for banned substances.
Kipkorir, 39, becomes the latest entry from Kenya to join the ballooning list of dopers, even as the country faces criticism of doing little to fight against doping ahead of the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday evening that Kipkorir's test, which he took when competing at the Nanjing marathon last November, returned positive.
"The AIU has banned Kenyan Japhet Kipkorir for four years from May 11 for the presence and use of a prohibited substance nandrolone, which is a violation of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules," AIU said in a statement.
Also banned is Ethiopia's Etaferahu Temesgen Wodaj. The Ethiopian received a 12-year sanction, which starts on Nov. 20 for the presence and use of a prohibited substance.
"Temesgen was also banned for a lengthy period because he was tampering with the doping control process, which is all violations of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules," the AIU added.
Kenya and Ethiopia have already been placed under category A by World Athletics as countries whose athletes are most likely to engage in doping malpractices.
"On May 8, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Beijing reported an adverse analytical finding for the presence of a metabolite of nandrolone (or nandrolone precursors), specifically 19-norandrosterone, consistent with exogenous origin, in Kipkorir's sample," AIU reported.
Kipkorir was given the chance to explain the presence of the metabolites of nandrolone in his sample.
"The athlete stated that he did not know how the substance entered his body and did not request analysis of the B Sample," said AIU.
"However, on June 5 Kipkorir admitted committing anti-doping rule violations, stating that it was unintentional and accepted the proposed consequences."
The Kenyan runner will now see his results disqualified from his fifth-placed finish at the Nanjing marathon.
He will also forfeit any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money pursuant earned during and after his appearance in Nanjing. Enditem
