Diana Kipyokei, the 2021 Boston Marathon winner, was disqualified after a positive drug test.
The Athletics Integrity Unit, the drug testing body of the international track federation, said Friday that a prohibited substance had been found in a sample taken from Kipyokei on the day of the race last October. The substance was a metabolite of triamcinolone acetonide, a steroid that can enhance performance. The organization also accused her of “obstructing or delaying the A.I.U.’s investigation through the provision of false information or documentation.”
The Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the race, said Friday that as a result of the finding, Kipyokei would be disqualified, pending an appeal. Kipyokei and her representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.
“The cases announced today are part of a recent trend in Kenyan athletics regarding triamcinolone acetonide, with 10 Kenyan athletes testing positive for that prohibited substance between 2021 and 2022,” the integrity unit said. It said in a statement that it would not comment further until appeals were exhausted and the case concluded.
The Boston Marathon was held in October last year instead of the usual April date because of the coronavirus pandemic and was the first running of the 125-year-old Boston tradition since the 2019 race.
Kipyokei’s victory in the race was a surprise in a field with many more accomplished runners. It was her major marathon debut at age 27; her previous biggest win was in the Istanbul Marathon.
She surged ahead at the 18-mile mark, then was joined by the more heralded Netsanet Gudeta of Ethiopia, a former world cross-country champion. At 24 miles, after the two had run side by side, Kipyokei again took the lead.
She finished her victory in 2 hours 24 minutes 45 seconds and said afterward that she was surprised to have won. Kipyokei did not return for the 2022 race and has not had a significant result since that 2021 victory.
Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, a two-time world champion, was second to Kipyokei in 2021 and would become the new winner should Kipyokei’s suspension be finalized. Age 41 at the time, Kiplagat would become the race’s oldest winner, NBC reported.
Besides losing her Boston title, Kipyokei is likely to face a multiyear suspension from the sport if her appeals fail.
