Kenyan sprinter gets 2-year ban

NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno has been banned for two years for breaching anti-doping rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.

Otieno tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid methasterone and was suspended from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 moments before he was due to compete in the 100-meter heats.

The 29-year-old will serve a two-year ban backdated to July 2021, the AIU said.

Kenyan marathoners Alice Jepkemboi Kimutai and Johnstone Kibet Maiyo were both banned for three years.

Kimutai, who won the Porto marathon last month, tested positive for the male hormone testosterone at Kaptagat on 20 September, with her ban starting on 16 November.

Maiyo returned a positive test for erythropoietin at the Kigali International peace marathon on 20 May 2022 with his ban starting on 20 July this year.

Three-time national 100m champion Otieno blamed a contaminated nutritional supplement for his positive test, promising to "return in 2023 to do what I do best."