Josephine Chepkoech joins a long and worrying list of Kenyan athletes recently caught up in doping cases, including Jackline Wambui, James Gikunga, Beatrice Toroitich, Salina Jebet, Rodgers Kwemoi, Rhonex Kipruto, Nicholas Mboroto, Ibrahim Mukunga, Rebecca Jepchirchir, Purity Changwony, and Lawrence Cherono. The number of doping cases has skyrocketed, raising serious questions about the integrity of the sport.

The mainly marathon runner has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), accused of using banned substances, including testosterone. The AIU issued a statement stating that Chepkoech had received a Notice of Allegation for breaching Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of its anti-doping rules. "The AIU has provisionally suspended Josephine Chepkoech (Kenya) for the presence (testosterone metabolites)/use of a prohibited substance (testosterone)," the AIU confirmed.

The 35-year-old Chepkoech is currently in one of her best forms. She set a personal best of 2:22:38 at the Seville Marathon last February. Just fifteen days ago, on 28 April, the Kenyan broke her personal record again. She won the Santiago de Chile Marathon in 2:20:14.

The Seville Marathon issued a statement on the news, saying that it supports the work of the AIU and will wait for developments before making a decision. Chepkoech, who finished second second in the race in February, was awarded a prize of 7,500 euros. The race is now in a position to take action if it believes the rules have been broken.

She made her marathon debut at the Nairobi Marathon in 2018, winning the race in 2:33:11, and also finished second at the Barcelona Marathon a year later in 2019 in 2:25:26.

Chepkoech's provisional ban means that she cannot take part in any competition until a final decision has been made. Some of the cases on the UCI's list of Provisional Suspensions are still under investigation, while others have been charged and will appear on the list of Pending First Instance Cases.

In doping cases, a Provisional Suspension is mandatory under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules following an Adverse Analytical Finding for any non-specified substance on the Prohibited List. The UIA Rules provide that a Provisional Suspension may also be imposed in other doping cases, depending on the nature and circumstances of the case.

A Provisional Suspension imposed in a non-doping case does not in any way overturn the presumption of innocence and is not an early determination of guilt. Rather, it is a precautionary decision taken to protect the interests of the sport.

The cases continue. Former junior world champion Jackline Wambui is also currently suspended for alleged use of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone, substances on the banned list.

Some of these cases are still under investigation. Others have been charged and will also appear on the Pending First Instance list. In doping cases, the World Anti-Doping Rules require a Provisional Suspension following an Adverse Analytical Finding for any non-specified substance on the Prohibited List.

Depending on the nature and circumstances of the case, a Provisional Suspension may also be imposed in other doping cases. A Provisional Suspension imposed in a non-doping case does not in any way overturn the presumption of innocence. It is not an early determination of guilt. It is a precautionary measure taken to protect the interests of the sport.