Asbel Kiprop, the Olympic and three times world champion over 1500m, has tested positive for a banned substance. Though his agent, Federico Rosa, would confirm only that he had heard the same rumour and was still trying to get confirmation the 28-year-old is reportedly said to have tested positive for banned blood-boosting agent EPO.
The test represents a massive blow to athletics as well as Kenyan distance running ,when it was only last year that Jemima Sumgong, the Olympic women’s marathon champion in Rio in 2016, tested positive for EPO and was banned for four years.
In Other News;
Kenya should brace themselves for a different format at this year’s World Cup, which some of the local tacticians have described as interesting and tricky but manageable.Unlike before where teams where slotted into four pools with previous semi-finalists gaining automatic qualification, World Rugby went with the seeding from the 2016/2017 World Sevens Series through to the first eight legs of the 2017/2018 Series.Therefore in the Rugby World Cup pre-qualifier (quarters) Kenya will meet Tonga for the right to play eighth seeded Scotland in the Round of 16 during the three-day Rugby World Cup Sevens set for the iconic AT&T Park in San Francisco, USA on July 20th.
A rich field of World champions,led by Hellen Obiri and Elijah Manangoi, headline the exhilarating opening leg of Diamond League Series in Doha tomorrow night.In 2014, Obiri posted 8:20.68 in women’s 3,000m race in Doha. This is the seventh fastest time over the distance as she defeated Mercy Cherono and Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba. On the other hand, Manangoi has dropped from his traditional 1,500m specialty for the meeting and will compete in men’s 800m alongside USA-based Emmanuel Korir, World bronze medalist Kipyegon Bett, Nicholas Kiplangat and former Diamond League trophy winner Ferguson Rotich.
Thika United coach Nicholas Muyoti has resigned from his post in the wake of poor results.Muyoti yesterday said he made the decision to quit after realising it would be difficult to turn around the team’s fortunes.Muyoti also added that they had been having serious financial challenges since last year and despite promises by the club management to improve things, nothing positive has been forthcoming.The team is second-last after picking nine points and has won just one of their 13 matches so far.
