NAIROBI, July 9 -- Former Commonwealth 10,000m champion Joyce Chepkirui and Hamburg marathon bronze medalist Jacob Kendagor have been suspended for failing anti-doping tests.
The duo now makes six the number of elite Kenyan athletes who have been reprimanded by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for use of banned substances in the last three months alone.
"The AIU confirms a provisional suspension against Kenyan long-distance runners Jacob Kendagor and Joyce Chepkirui for violations of the anti-doping rules," said a statement from AIU on Tuesday.
Chepkirui, who is a former Africa 10,000m champion, has not raced this year. Her last race was in Honolulu, Hawaii in the U.S. in December 2018 where she failed to complete the race.
However, the AIU report that her suspension was effected after her test revealed use of a prohibited substance.
On the other hand, Kendagor may be forced to stay out of competition for two years after he failed to submit or avail himself to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials to conduct the tests on him.
"Kendagor is suspended for evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection," said a statement from AIU.
"Chepkirui sample test found use of a prohibited substance. Their cases will remain under investigation."
In doping cases, a provisional suspension is mandatory under the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules following an adverse analytical finding for any non-specified substance on the prohibited list.
A provisional suspension may be imposed in other doping cases depending on the nature and circumstances of the case in question.
Last month, Chinese Taipei Wan Jin Shi marathon fifth finisher Salome Jerono Biwott, 37, was suspended after she tested positive for the second time to banned substances.
The 37-year-old faces a length eight-year ban reserved for second offenders of doping having been banned back in 2013.
The AIU said that Biwott blood sample had presence of a prohibited substance norandrosterone and have issued a charge against her, which makes her provisionally suspended from any athletics competition immediately.
"A provisional suspension is when an athlete is suspended temporarily from participating in any competition prior to a final decision at a hearing conducted under the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct," AIU said in a statement.
Biwott, who was first hit with a two-year ban in 2013 when she failed a drugs test after winning the 2017 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, is fresh from finishing second at Sao Paulo International Marathon in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 33 seconds on April 7.
Chepkirui, Kendagor and Biwott make it six, the number of Kenyan to be banned for doping in the last three months. They join World Half Marathon record holder Abraham Kiptum, Cyrus Rutto and Felix Kirwa.
In this year, others Kenyans who have failed in the anti-doping test are 2017 Tokyo Marathon champion Sarah Chepchirchir, former three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, Hilary Kepkosgei Yego, Samson Mungai Kagia, Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong and Lucy Kabuu.