Boston Marathon bronze medallist provisionally suspended for doping

Bronze medallist at the 2019 Boston Marathon Kenneth Kipkemoi has been charged with an anti-doping violation for the presence of terbutaline, a banned substance, as reported by the Athletics Integrity Unit. In Boston, Kipkemoi finished in 2:08:07, just 10 seconds behind winner and fellow Kenyan, Lawrence Cherono, and eight seconds behind second-place Lelisa Desisa.

Lawrence Cherono beats Lelisa Desisa by one second to win Boston Marathon. pic.twitter.com/GdrngBNOlB

— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) April 15, 2019

Kipkemoi won the 2018 Rotterdam Marathon, where he ran his PB of 2:05:44. He was set to return to the Boston Marathon this year. His charges for the presence of terbutaline is in violation of Article 2.1 of the World Anti-Doping Code.

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The charge elicits a provisional suspension, meaning that Kipkemoi will be barred from competition until a final decision has been made under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.

Wow!!! #Kenya's Lawrence Cherono outsprints #Ethiopia's Lilesa Desisa to win the Men’s Elite Race at the 2019 Boston Marathon – 2:07:57 to 2:07:59, while his compatriot Kenneth Kipkemoi finished third in 2:08:07

(? / @ZHetrick)#BostonMarathon #AthleticsAfrica pic.twitter.com/g5pRgcyhgM

— AthleticsAfrica (@athleticsafrica) April 15, 2019

If Kipkemoi is stripped of his recent results, his compatriot Felix Kandie will be retroactively awarded third place from Boston last year. Kandie ran 2:08:54 in Boston for fourth place.

Kandie is also set to race in Boston this year, as are Cherono and Desisa.