Top Toronto Waterfront Marathon finisher suspended for doping

On Tuesday, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) handed a two-year doping ban to one of the top finishers from the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Kenya’s Brian Kipsang tested positive for the banned substance triamcinolone acetonide, a banned corticosteroid commonly used to treat skin and joint conditions. Kipsang placed fifth in Toronto with a time of 2:08:38.

The AIU has banned Brian Kipsang (Kenya) for 2 years from 1 May 2025 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Triamcinolone acetonide). DQ results from 16 March 2025
Details here: https://t.co/GuKJ56LGdA pic.twitter.com/cI0Mv7T651

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) May 6, 2025

According to the AIU, the 30-year-old athlete tested positive during an in-competition urine sample collected at the 2025 Rome Marathon on March 16, where he finished second in 2:07:58 behind fellow Kenyan Robert Ngeno. The AIU reported an Adverse Analytical Finding for triamcinolone acetonide, with the test result confirmed on April 1.

Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic corticosteroid that can be applied topically or injected into joints to reduce inflammation, itching and swelling. It has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) List of Prohibited Substances since 2014. Kipsang admitted fault and was given a reduced suspension from four years to two years.

As a result of the violation, Kipsang’s runner-up finish in Rome will be disqualified. However, his fifth-place finish at the 2024 Toronto Waterfront Marathon will stand. A source from the organizing committee confirmed that Kipsang was tested at October’s event. He earned C$3,000 for his performance that day, finishing two spots ahead of Canada’s Justin Kent, who took seventh and collected C$1,500.

Under current anti-doping rules, Kipsang cannot be retroactively disqualified from the Toronto result unless there is direct evidence of a violation at that time.