Kenyan long-distance runner returned a positive test after making the podium at this year’s Rome Marathon
Brian Kipsang, who clocked 2:07:58 for second at the Rome Marathon (March 16), has received a two-year ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
The 30-year-old’s in-competition urine sample returned a positive test of triamcinolone acetonide – which has been named on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list since 2014.
Kipsang was judged by the Athletics Integrity Unit to not have a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for the substance.
The AIU said: “On April 22, due to the athlete’s failure to request the B Sample analysis by the April 9 deadline, the AIU wrote to the athlete and confirmed that he was deemed to have irrevocably waived his right to the B Sample analysis.
“He then had until April 25 to respond in relation to the other matters set out by the AIU on April 9. On May 1, the AIU received an admission of anti-doping rule violations and acceptance of consequences form signed by the athlete.”
Kipsang’s result from the 2025 Rome Marathon has been disqualified, including the forfeiture of any medals, rankings points and appearance money. However, his second place finish from last year’s edition – he clocked 2:07:56 in the Italian capital – still stands.
Given the AIU stated the violations weren’t intentional and Kipsang also admitted to them, the ban was set at the mandatory two and not four years – from May 1, 2025.
Read the full AIU findings here
