Kenya’s long-distance running star Benard Kibet Koech will be sidelined for four years after being found guilty of a doping violation by the Athletics Integrity Unit.
The suspension, effective from June 10, 2025, will end on June 9, 2029, preventing him from competing internationally during this period.
In addition, all of Koech’s results between June 26, 2024, and June 10, 2025, have been annulled, meaning any medals, titles, points, and prize money earned in that timeframe are forfeited.
Koech, 26, who placed fifth in the men’s 10,000m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, came under scrutiny after unusual patterns appeared in his Athlete Biological Passport.
According to the AIU, blood samples collected from February 15, 2020, to August 15, 2024, revealed anomalies “highly likely” linked to the use of prohibited substances or methods, with evidence suggesting blood manipulation.
“The consistent pattern of high HGB with suppressed reticulocytes and elevated OFF scores in July 2024 strongly supports the likelihood of blood doping. No alternative physiological or environmental explanations adequately account for these anomalies,” the AIU report stated.
The investigation concluded that the abnormalities could not be explained by natural conditions.
“We, therefore, conclude, considering the information within the passport at this stage and in the absence of an appropriate explanation, that a prohibited substance or prohibited method has highly likely been used and that it is unlikely that the passport is the result of any other cause, such as environmental factors or a medical condition.”
Koech maintained his innocence, claiming that a COVID-19 infection in June 2024, a month-long oral iron supplementation program, and high-altitude training in Eldoret caused the irregular blood readings. His defence was supported by haematologist Professor Dr Stephen J. Brandt of Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, and further backed by testimonies from his wife, coach, and roommate.
Despite this, the AIU reviewed all evidence and reaffirmed its findings. In a second expert opinion on May 28, 2025, the panel noted:
“The abnormalities began before the onset of the illness on June 30; on July 4, we observed the peak of HGB with initial reticulocyte suppression; on July 9, after the illness, the erythropoietic suppression worsened with the lowest reticulocytes. Thus, the haematological anomalies began at least 5 weeks before the Olympic 10,000m event, where the Athlete ran a personal best (26:43.98) and placed fifth, a highly competitive result globally.”
The panel also rejected Koech’s explanation that iron supplements or altitude training could be responsible for the changes:
“Oral iron supplementation is not known to suppress reticulocyte production and is unlikely to cause rapid haemoglobin elevation in a subject without depleted iron stores and efficient erythropoiesis. Even athletes with ferritin levels in the low normal range will not experience an increase in the HGB after several weeks of oral iron administration.”
Born on November 25, 1999, Koech has competed at the international level, achieving milestones such as the world’s fastest 10-mile road race in Japan on December 4, 2022.
Following its review, the AIU’s disciplinary panel confirmed Koech had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and imposed four years of ineligibility starting June 10, 2025. All competitive results from June 26, 2024, to June 10, 2025, are disqualified. Each party is responsible for its own legal costs.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has jurisdiction to decide on the subject matter of this dispute. The Athlete has committed an ADRV pursuant to Rule 2.2 ADR. All competitive results obtained by the Athlete from 26 June 2024 to 10 June 2025 shall be disqualified with all resulting Consequences, including forfeiture of any titles, prizes, medals, points and prize and appearance money, pursuant to Rule 10.10 ADR,” the panel stated.
Koech has the right to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, within 30 days of receiving the decision.
