The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenyan distance runner Sheila CHELANGAT over alleged doping violations, barring her from participating in any athletic competitions with immediate effect.
The suspension, issued on Thursday, May 22, follows accusations that Chelangat used a banned substance, contravening Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
In a public statement, AIU confirmed. “The AIU has provisionally suspended Sheila Chelangat, a Kenyan, for the presence or use of a prohibited substance.”
Chelangat, 27, hails from Kericho and has been a prominent figure in long-distance running. She made headlines in 2015, after clinching a bronze medal in the 3,000m race at the World Youth Championships in Colombia.
Her star continued to rise. This came after winning the national cross-country championships in both 2020 and 2021, cementing her status among Kenya’s elite runners. In 2024, she added to her accolades with a victory at the Betika Cross-Country meet in Kericho County.
That same year, she delivered an impressive performance at the Istanbul Half Marathon. She crossed the finish line in a personal best time of 1:06:47 to secure the gold medal.
Kenya Doping Cases
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has disqualified over 270 Kenyan athletes since 2015, a reminder of the ongoing challenges the country faces in tackling the issue.
Chelangat now joins a growing list of Kenyan athletes suspended by the AIU in recent months over doping concerns. Kibiwott Kandie, who was provisionally banned on March 14 for reportedly refusing to provide a sample for drug testing. Kandie, 28, won a bronze medal in the 10,000m event at the 2020 Commonwealth competition in Valencia, Spain.
Similarly, veteran marathoner Ronald Kurgat was suspended on February 20 after testing positive for Triamcinolone acetonide—a corticosteroid typically used to treat skin and mouth inflammations. As a result, The 39-year-old faces further scrutiny following the AIU’s decision.
In response to the growing number of doping cases, the AIU has ramped up. In its collaborative efforts with Kenya’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Athletics Kenya. These efforts include more frequent testing and educational outreach aimed at eradicating doping in Kenyan athletics.
