Sixth-fastest marathoner in history slapped with 10-year doping ban
Kenya's Titus Ekiru collaborated with a doctor to receive undocumented injections of triamcinolone acetonide during off-hour hospital visits
On Monday, the sixth-fastest men’s marathoner in history, Kenya’s Titus Ekiru, received a 10-year doping ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for multiple positive doping tests and tampering.
The AIU has banned Titus Ekiru (Kenya) for 10 years, from 28 June 2022, for the Presence of Prohibited Substances (Triamcinolone Acetonide and metabolite; Pethidine and metabolite) and for Tampering. DQ results since 16 May 2021.
Details here: https://t.co/HSMPLyJQ1c pic.twitter.com/qd74zkgTUJ
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) October 16, 2023
Ekiru tested positive for the corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide after winning the 2021 Milan Marathon in 2:02:57–the sixth-fastest time in history. This substance is prohibited in competitive sports unless an athlete has received a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Ekiru initially attributed the positive test to medical treatment, invoking the TUE claim to justify his predicament. However, his defence took a significant blow when he once again tested positive, this time for a synthetic opioid, shortly after winning the Abu Dhabi Marathon in November 2021.
Kenya’s Titus Ekiru says he can beat Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 marathon record
According to the AIU’s investigation, Ekiru colluded with a doctor at the Nandi County Hospital in Kapsabet, Kenya, to fabricate documents and manipulate the patient registry in an attempt to legitimize the injections he received. After scrutiny by the AIU, the forgery was unveiled and Ekiru faced additional charges of tampering.
The AIU went over hospital records and found discrepancies in Ekiru’s explanations, particularly regarding the nature and purpose of the injections he claimed were for injury treatment. Ekiru had collaborated with a senior doctor at the hospital to receive undocumented injections of triamcinolone acetonide during off-hour hospital visits.
The AIU reports that this revelation suggested a “deliberate effort” to subvert anti-doping regulations.
The 10-year period of ineligibility reflects four years for tampering plus an additional two years for aggravating circumstances, leading to a total of six years for Ekiru. A further mandatory four-year sanction has been imposed for his second tampering violation.
Ekiru has been stripped of his titles from the Milan and Abu Dhabi Marathons, along with all the prize money he accrued in both races, totalling around USD $60,000.
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