Kenyan athlete Emmaculate Anyango, who recently made headlines as the world’s second-fastest woman over 10km, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for banned substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday.
The 24-year-old long-distance runner tested positive for prohibited testosterone and the blood-boosting hormone Erythropoietin (EPO). If confirmed guilty, Anyango could face a ban of up to four years, dealing a significant blow to her rising career.
Anyango, who won silver in the African U20 3,000m in 2019, was considered one of Kenya’s brightest upcoming athletes.
Earlier this year, she became only the second Kenyan woman to run 10km in under 29 minutes, finishing runner-up in Valencia with a remarkable time behind world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich.
Her performance at the race highlighted her growing stature on the global stage, further cemented by her victory at the Sirikwa Classic cross-country event, where she outclassed a strong field that included former marathon champions such as Joyciline Jepkosgei.
However, her provisional suspension casts a shadow on her achievements and raises further concerns about the ongoing doping crisis in Kenyan athletics.
Over the past few years, Kenya has faced a string of doping scandals, prompting the government to heavily invest in the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to restore the country’s integrity in athletics.
Despite this, the latest cases highlight the ongoing challenge, with Anyango becoming the latest high-profile name to be embroiled in doping allegations.
This year alone, Kenya has seen its 10km road race men’s record holder, Rhonex Kipruto, banned for six years for a doping violation, with his world record annulled by the AIU.
Kenya’s anti-doping efforts, which were intensified after the 2016 Rio Olympics doping scandal, have led to the sanctioning of 78 athletes in the last three years.
However, there are concerns that these efforts could be hampered by budget constraints, as ADAK recently reported that severe funding cuts had forced a halt in testing operations.
Anyango’s suspension sends another strong message to athletes in Kenya and around the world about the importance of clean sport.
Yet, as her case unfolds, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges facing anti-doping authorities in East Africa, where some of the world’s most celebrated athletes continue to be caught in the crossfire of doping violations.
