The Kenyan distance runner faces a potential ban for the presence/use of prohibited substances
Emmaculate Anyango Achol, who is the second-fastest female runner over 10km in history, has received a provisional suspension for a doping violation.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Anyango was suspended due to the presence of testosterone and EPO, which are prohibited substances.
That will remain in effect until her case is resolved, with Anyango potentially facing a four-year ban if she’s found to be culpable.
The AIU has provisionally suspended Emmaculate Anyango Achol (Kenya) for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone and EPO)
Details here: https://t.co/Y8LF9j2o9f pic.twitter.com/bodHwRunZm— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) October 4, 2024
The 24-year-old was widely regarded as a promising talent for Kenya, earning attention after her victory at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships in 2023.
The former U20 African Championships 3000m silver medallist also came close to breaking the world 10km record in January this year. She set the second-fastest time ever with a 28:57 finish in Valencia, which was faster than Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s previous world record of 29:14.
Emmaculate Anyango Achol
Anyango placed second behind compatriot Agnes Ngetich, who set the current world record of 28:46. They are still the only two women in history to run under 29 minutes for 10km.
Anyango again finished behind Ngetich in March this year at the Kenyan cross country trials, securing her selection for the 2024 World Cross Country Championships in Serbia, where she finished fourth individually and contributed to Kenya’s team gold.
This past season, she also had second-place finishes at the BAA 5km in Boston and the TCS World 10km Road Race in Bengaluru, India.
Despite these achievements, Anyango missed a spot on the Kenyan team for the Paris Olympics after placing six in the 10,000m trials at the Prefontaine Classic, where she clocked a personal best of 30:06.43.
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