Two Kenyan athletes barred from the World Championship

Kenyan 5,000 metre runners Michael Kibet and Daniel Simiyu will not be allowed to compete at the athletics world championships in Doha after failing to meet anti-doping rule requirements, Athletics Kenya (AK) officials have said.



AK had hoped that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) would clear Kibet and Simiyu, who finished first and second at the Kenyan trials, to compete at the global championships that begin on Friday.

AIU rules state that athletes must go through three out-of-competition and one in-competition doping test to be eligible for the world championships.


AK Vice President in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii confirmed that the AIU had declined a request to enter Kibet and Simiyu in the global showpiece.

“Only Nicholas Kimeli and Jacob Krop (third and fourth at the trials) will represent us in Doha. Kibet and Simiyu have not been allowed because they did not comply with the AIU anti-doping rules. We are now very strict with the compliance rules, we cannot make a mistake,” Mutwii told reporters.

About 60 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations in the past five years.