- Kibiwott Kandie has been provisionally suspended for disobeying doping rules.
- Kandie was expected to compete in the 2025 eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona on Sunday.
- Some of the other Kenyan runners who have been banned or suspended by AIU in recent months are Emmaculate Anyango and Brimin Misoi Kipkorir.
Former half marathon world record holder Kibiwott Kandie was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing to obey the doping rules on Thursday, March 13.
The shocking news came as Kandie was preparing for the 2025 eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona road race where he was one of the favorites.
Kandie, who has represented Kenya several times, was expected to battle it out with the likes of compatriot Barselius Kipyego and Ethiopia’s Mekuant Ayenew Gebre in the event that is scheduled for Sunday, March 16.
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According to AIU, the 2019 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon champion, was slapped with the suspension for violating the rules.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) for evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection,” the statement read in part.
Kandie will have an opportunity to defend himself before the final decision is made on the matter with regard to whether he will be banned or not.
The AIU defines a provisional suspension as a scenario when a person is blocked temporarily from taking part in athletics activities.
“A provisional suspension imposed in a non-doping case does not in any way abrogate the presumption of innocence and it is not an early determination of guilt.
Rather, it is an order made on a precautionary basis to safeguard the interests of the sport,” read an explanation from the AIU website.
Kandie’s latest victory in a high profile race came in the 2023 Valencia Half Marathon edition where he destroyed the field to secure the title in a time of 57:40.
Prior to his success in the streets of the Spanish City, he had bagged a silver medal for Kenya at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships that was held in Gdynia, Poland.
Kandie joins a huge list of Kenyan runners who have either been suspended or banned due to doping in recent months.
Some of these athletes include Emmaculate Anyango Achol and Brimin Misoi Kipkorir, who were banned and suspended respectively.
Anyango was banned for six years in November last year after testing positive for a prohibited blood-boosting hormone EPO and testosterone.
On the other hand, Kipkorir, who broke the course record in the 2024 Sydney Marathon, was suspended in February this year for allegedly using a prohibited substance.