The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has suspended 27 athletes over violations of anti-doping rules.
Wiseman Were, National 400 metres hurdles champion and former Boston Marathon and Rita Jeptoo, Chicago Marathon champion, are among local sportsmen and women who have been provisionally suspended for varying doping offences.
Were and Jeptoo are among 27 local athletes who were suspended for whereabouts failure since August, last year. The athlete will not be allowed to compete until his case is heard and decided.
His suspension comes at a time when his hurdles career is picking up. He made his maiden appearance at the Olympic Games in August 2024 in Paris, where he reached the semi-finals.
Were claimed bronze in 4x400m at the same Games. He won 400m hurdles in the 2025 Kip Keino Classic in a new meeting record of personal best of 48.34, erasing his previous time of 48.57 from 2024. Adak has suspended the 45-year-old Jeptoo for the presence of prohibited anabolic androgenic steroids.
Jeptoo is the most successful Kenyan woman in the World Marathon Majors to have been sanctioned for doping violations. She won the Boston Marathon title in 2006, 2013 and in 2014 in a course record time of 2hours,18 minutes and 57 seconds. She also won the Chicago Marathon in 2013 and 2014.
Kenya Police FC midfielder Charles Ouma is among five footballers suspended on December 23, 2025 for whereabouts failures. Other footballers sanctioned are Wilson Kamau Ndungu (formerly of Murang’a Seal), John Collins Njuguna, and Benson Ochieng Oluoch, all of Nairobi United.
Footballer Rooney Onyango, who currently plays for Norwegian club Sogndal, was flagged for whereabouts failure on February 12, this year.
Local basketball players Christine Akinyi and Christine Mwangale were flagged for whereabouts failure on December 23, 2025 alongside volleyballer Loice Simiyu Masitsa.
The 2024 national 110m hurdles champion Michael Musyoka who competes for Kenya Defence Forces has also been suspended for whereabouts failures alongside 2024 Africa Military Games 5,000m champion, Bravin Kosgei Kiptoo, who is also the 2019 Africa Under-20 10,000m champion.
MG/abj/APA