Kenya has suffered another setback in the battle against doping as Rhonex Kipruto, the world 10km record holder, received a suspension from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Wednesday. The AIU made the announcement via their official social media account, revealing that Kipruto has been provisionally suspended for the use of a prohibited substance/method (ABP).

Kipruto, who secured a bronze medal in the 10,000m race at the 2019 World Championships, has been charged with irregularities in his athlete biological passport. The athlete biological passport (ABP) involves the monitoring of specific biological parameters over time, which can indirectly indicate the effects of doping. By analyzing an athlete's blood values over a period, the ABP can identify potential irregularities without the athlete testing positive for banned substances.

This approach enables anti-doping organizations to create individual profiles for each athlete, tracking any fluctuations that may suggest the use of performance-enhancing drugs or methods. Despite his young age of 19 at the time, Kipruto displayed remarkable talent by securing third place in the 10,000m event at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar. The race was won by Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei.

A few months later, Kipruto set a new 10km record of 26 minutes and 24 seconds in Valencia in 2020. He also participated in the 10,000m race at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, finishing in ninth place. [Additional reporting by AP]

Here is a timeline highlighting some notable instances of Kenyan athletes being banned for doping:

1. 2012: Mathew Kisorio, a Kenyan middle-distance runner, received a two-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance dexamethasone.

2. 2014: Rita Jeptoo, a prominent Kenyan marathon runner, was banned for two years after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO (erythropoietin).

3. 2016: Jemima Sumgong, an Olympic gold medalist in the women's marathon at the Rio Olympics, tested positive for EPO and was subsequently banned for four years.

4. 2019: Asbel Kiprop, a three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m, was given a four-year ban for doping violations after his sample tested positive for EPO.

5. 2020: Wilson Kipsang, a former marathon world record holder and winner of major marathons, received a four-year ban for whereabouts failures and tampering with the doping control process.

6. 2021: Elijah Manangoi, the reigning world champion in the men's 1500m, was handed a two-year ban for whereabouts failures, which involves failing to provide accurate information about his location for out-of-competition testing.

It's important to note that this timeline provides a few notable examples and is not an exhaustive list. Doping cases can occur in any country, and while Kenya has faced several high-profile cases, there are also numerous clean and successful Kenyan athletes who continue to excel in their respective sports.