2021 Boston Marathon winner could lose title

Diana Kipyokei could beryllium stripped of her triumph astatine the 2021 Boston Marathon aft she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for utilizing a banned substance.

Kipyokei and Kenyan compatriot Betty Wilson Lempus were recovered to person utilized the banned substance triamcinolone acetonide, the AIU said Friday. Both runners person besides been charged with obstructing the AIU's probe by providing mendacious accusation oregon documentation.

"After extended investigations, the AIU has provisionally suspended 2 Kenyan marathoners -- Diana Kipyokei and Betty Wilson Lempus -- and charged them with assorted breaches of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules," the AIU said via a statement. "These alleged anti-doping regularisation violations stem from probes into the accusation provided by the athletes to explicate Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for metabolites of triamcinolone acetonide successful samples."

Kipyokei's illustration was taken aft her triumph successful Boston past October. The 28-year-old had won Boston, held successful the autumn for the archetypal clip successful its 125-year past due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic, by 23 seconds implicit 2017 victor Edna Kiplagat.

Lempus, 31, was tested aft her triumph astatine the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris successful September 2021.

Triamcinolone acetonide, a substance prohibited successful contention erstwhile administered successful definite ways, falls nether the banned class of glucocorticoids, commonly utilized arsenic therapeutic substances successful sports. Their usage is permitted if athletes tin nutrient an exemption oregon impervious that medication is not done a prohibited route.

The latest suspensions mean that 10 Kenyan athletes person tested affirmative for triamcinolone acetonide since 2011. Only 2 athletes from extracurricular Kenya person returned affirmative tests for the substance during the aforesaid period.

On Thursday, the AIU banned Kenyan marathoner Mark Kangogo for 3 years for the usage for norandrosterone and triamcinolone acetonide.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.