Kenya’s long-distance sensation Emmaculate Anyango has been handed a six-year doping ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) over multiple doping violations.
The AIU announced Anyango’s doping ban on Friday, having provisionally been suspended in October, for the presence/use of a prohibited substance (Testosterone and EPO).
It is a major blow to the career of the 24-year-old, who will be nearing 30 and beyond her prime by the time her ban ends, having started making waves in 2024.
The Sirikwa Classic Cross-country champion was awarded the Sports Personality of the Month award for February by the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) after coming close to breaking the world 10km world record in February.
She recorded the second fastest 10km time in history when she clocked 28:47 in Valencia, Spain, improving Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s world record (29.14) but unfortunately for her, compatriot Agnes Ngetich won the race in a better time of 28.46 but her career now appears to be over following the lengthy ban.