NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan long-distance runner Sheila Chelangat has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned blood-boosting drug Erythropoietin (EPO), the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on May 20, casting a fresh shadow over the country’s embattled athletics program.
The 27-year-old, a two-time national cross country champion, had recently mounted an impressive comeback after years of injury setbacks and inconsistent form.
Her resurgence saw her claim second place at the Hong Kong Half Marathon in January and repeat the feat at the Istanbul Half Marathon in April.
That promising return has now been derailed by the doping charge, after AIU tests returned a positive result for synthetic EPO — a drug that increases red blood cell production and is widely banned in competitive sports due to its endurance-enhancing effects.
Chelangat’s case marks the third doping-related suspension involving a Kenyan athlete this year.
It follows the provisional ban of former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie, who was accused of evading a doping test, further compounding concerns about systemic abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in Kenyan athletics.
Though EPO is naturally produced in the body, its synthetic form has been at the center of several high-profile doping scandals globally.
Kenya, a powerhouse in long-distance running, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years for a rising number of doping violations.
The suspension underscores the mounting pressure on Athletics Kenya and the country’s anti-doping authorities to intensify testing, education, and enforcement measures to protect the integrity of the sport.
Chelangat is now facing further investigation and disciplinary proceedings, and if found guilty, she could face a lengthy ban from competition. The AIU has not yet disclosed the timeline for a final ruling.
Kenya remains on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) watchlist and risks further sanctions if it fails to curb the surge in doping violations among its elite athletes.
