Kenya’s Titus Ekiru, the sixth-best marathon performer in history, has been provisionally suspended for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Monday.
Ekiru (31), an unknown athlete, distinguished himself by winning the Milan marathon (Italy) in 2 hours 2 min 57 sec in May 2021, an exceptional time at the level of the old world record of his compatriot Denis Kimetto (2h02:57 also, in 2014), improved twice by Eliud Kipchoge (in 2018 then in 2022).
Ekiru tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide – a glucocorticoid totally banned since January 2022 – and pethidine (narcotic). Without specifying the date of the control(s), the AIU announces that the provisional suspension dates back to June 28, 2022.
The runner has not appeared in international competition since November 2021.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent body responsible since 2017 in particular for the fight against doping in the N.1 Olympic sport, denounced in April large-scale doping in Kenya, the country king of the race of background, undermined by positive cases for several years.
“Doping is present (…) we must put everything in the controls said Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge in June.
(With AFP)