Half marathon record holder Kiptum suspended in doping case

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Half marathon world record holder Abraham Kiptum was provisionally suspended for doping on Friday, two days before he was due to run the London Marathon.

The Athletics Integrity Unit, which handles doping cases in track and field, said Kiptum was suspected under the biological passport program, which involves analyzing blood data.

London Marathon organizers said the Kenyan runner has left London.

Kiptum took five seconds off the half marathon record in October when he won in Valencia, Spain, in 58 minutes, 18 seconds. That record could be erased if it is ruled that his blood data indicated doping at the time.

London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher said stricter testing for marathon runners was paying dividends.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy on doping," he said. "We recently announced a groundbreaking extensive intelligence-driven testing program. This shows the program is working. Cheats will be caught and there is no place for them in marathon running."

Kiptum's suspension is another controversy for the London Marathon after one of its star runners, British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, feuded with distance-running great Haile Gebrselassie this week.

British runner Mo Farah attends the elite men race press conference ahead of the London Marathon at the Tower Bridge in London, UK, April 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

Farah has been accused of being involved in two separate physical altercations at a hotel owned by retired runner Gebrselassie in Ethiopia. An athlete told The Associated Press he was punched by Farah and a gym instructor during the alleged incidents.

Farah had earlier said money, two cellphones, and a watch were stolen from his room when he stayed at the hotel. Gebrselassie said Farah left without paying a 3,000 U.S. dollars bill.

(Top image: Kenyan runner Abraham Kiptum attends the elite men race press conference ahead of the London Marathon at the Tower Bridge in London, April 24, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AP