Kenyan long-distance runner Benard Kibet Koech has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for suspected doping.
The AIU announced on Wednesday that Koech, who impressively finished fifth in the men’s 10,000-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been notified of a charge relating to irregularities detected in his athlete biological passport (ABP).
The ABP is a system that monitors an athlete’s biological markers over time to identify possible doping violations, even without a direct positive test for a banned substance.
The AIU suspects the 25-year-old of using a prohibited substance or method, though it hasn’t released specific details yet.
Koech’s career had been on a notable upward trajectory. In Paris last year, he clocked a remarkable 26:43.98 in the 10,000m the 36th fastest time in history, securing a fifth-place finish.
He mirrored that position at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and placed eighth in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships the same year. Koech also boasts an impressive personal best of 58:45 in the half marathon, achieved in 2023.
As of this year, Koech had not yet competed in any 2025 events.
The AIU confirmed that Koech’s case will proceed through its disciplinary process. A formal hearing could suspend him for up to four years or more if it upholds the charges and confirms repeat violations.
The growing number of doping-related cases among Kenyan athletes continues to raise questions about the effectiveness of current anti-doping education and enforcement programs in the country, even as authorities strive to safeguard the nation’s storied athletics legacy.
