The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has declared two Kenyan athletes guilty of breaking anti-doping regulations.

The agency revealed that 31-year-old marathon runner Careen Cheptoek tested positive for Methylprednisolone, a banned substance.

Meanwhile, another athlete, Brimin Misoi Kipkorir, was found guilty of using multiple prohibited substances, including EPO and Furosemide.

As a result, Cheptoek has been banned from competing for two years, starting in February 2025. On the other hand, Kipkorir has been provisionally suspended while further investigations take place.

Careen Cheptoek’s Case

According to the AIU, Cheptoek provided a urine sample while competing in the Taipei City Marathon in Taiwan on December 15, 2024.

This sample, labeled as 1414010, was sent to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory in Tokyo, Japan, for testing.

A few weeks later, on January 27, 2025, the laboratory released the test results, revealing the presence of Methylprednisolone, a substance that is strictly prohibited in competitive sports.

AIU’s Investigation and Cheptoek’s Response

Following the discovery, the AIU promptly notified Cheptoek of the results on February 13, 2025, informing her of her right to appeal the decision.

The very next day, Cheptoek responded, explaining that she had taken some medication, which she believed might have led to the positive result.

However, upon further investigation, the AIU found that the medication she mentioned did not contain Methylprednisolone.

Later, on February 17, 2025, Cheptoek wrote another letter to the AIU, stating that she had tried to recall what could have caused the positive test.

She admitted that during long training hours of runs, she and her training group often shared supplement drinks.

Therefore, she speculated that the banned substance might have been present in one of these supplement drinks.

Eventually, she accepted the charges and signed the necessary documents to finalize the ruling.

What is Methylprednisolone?

Methylprednisolone is a substance listed under the S9 Glucocorticoids category in the WADA 2024 Prohibited List. It is banned in competitions when taken through oral, injectable, or rectal routes.

The AIU’s ruling serves as yet another warning to athletes about the risks of taking unverified supplements and medications.

With doping regulations becoming increasingly strict, athletes must be extra cautious about what they consume to avoid facing career-damaging suspensions.

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