October 16, (THEWILL) – Kenyan marathon runner, Titus Ekiru, has been banned from competition for 10 years due to doping violations, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Monday. The 31-year-old tested positive for two banned substances in 2021 – triamcinolone acetonide at the Milan Marathon and pethidine at the Abu Dhabi Marathon.
Investigators found Ekiru obstructed the AIU’s probe by providing false information and documentation to explain the adverse findings. The runner also received injections of prohibited substances during undocumented hospital visits, with medical records submitted by Ekiru later found to be forged.
Ekiru’s ban is backdated to June 2022 when he was provisionally suspended. All his results since May 2021 have been annulled and prizes forfeited. At the time of his positive tests, Ekiru was among the world’s top marathoners, having won Milan in 2:02:57 and at least 10 other marathons between 2017-2021.
“For athletes involved in doping and the entourage who assist them, there is one strong message from this case – there is nowhere to hide,” said AIU chair David Howman. The extent of Ekiru’s deception and high-level collusion makes this one of Kenya’s most serious doping offenses.
The 10-year ban effectively ends the promising career of the world-class runner in his prime. Ekiru now joins a growing list of Kenyan dopers that have tarnished the country’s reputation in distance running.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
