Kenyan runner Anyango has been banned for six years for using EPO and testosterone

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Friday that Kenyan cross-country runner Emmaculate Anyango has been banned for six years after failing a test for testosterone and EPO, a hormone that makes blood flow better.

The 24-year-old, who in January became the second woman to finish a 10 km race in less than 29 minutes (28:57), was temporarily banned last month.

The AIU says that Anyango told them in September that she didn’t know how EPO and testosterone metabolites ended up in her body, but she did say that she had been shot during treatment at several hospitals after she had passed out.

While she said she hadn’t intentionally taken or injected any drugs that were against the rules, the AIU wasn’t convinced and charged her with breaking an anti-doping rule.

The AIU also said that Anyango didn’t reply to the charge by the November 1 deadline, which meant she gave up her right to a hearing. Also, different samples testing positive for illegal substances led to a longer ban in the end.

Her ban starts on September 26, and all of her scores since February 3 have been thrown out.

Anyango came in fourth place at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships in Serbia in March. Kenya won the gold title as a team.