This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
On December 4, 2019, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) held a seminar in Eldoret to introduce the Road Running Integrity Program for 2020.
The program was introduced in response to threats by organizers of world-leading road running races to lock out Kenyan athletes due to doping cases.
According to Thomas Capdevielle, the AIU's head of programs, the organizers approached the AIU after the doping cases of Rita Jeptoo and Jemima Sumgong.
Jeptoo was banned for two years in 2014 after testing positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), and her ban was extended for two more years after she lied in her defense.
Sumgong, who won the 2016 Rio Olympics Marathon, was banned for four years in 2017 over the use of EPO, and her ban was extended to eight years after she also lied in her defense.
"The situation was bad with a few doping cheaters putting every Kenyan athlete at risk," said Capdevielle.
Capdevielle added that the AIU had to spend time defending Kenya due to documentaries on doping issues being released during major events.
The AIU discovered that 76% of 50 road race winners in World Athletics Gold Label races were not part of any out-of-competition anti-doping program in 2018.
Additionally, 74% of podium finishers in those Gold Label road races were not included in out-of-competition testing pools in the sport or their testing pool.
The seminar was attended by 108 athletes and 21 of their handlers, and it was declared a major success by Capdevielle and Athletics Kenya.
World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, Olympic Marathon champion Ruth Chepng'etich, and World Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor were among those who praised the AIU initiative.
