NAIROBI, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Sarah Chepchirchir, the 2017 Tokyo Marathon winner and a sister-in-law of banned Olympic champion Jemimah Jelagat Sumgong, is the latest high-profile Kenyan distance runner to be suspended from competition for doping.
Chepchirchir and two little known compatriots, Samson Mungai Kagia and James Mwangi Wangari, will not be eligible for competition after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) charged the trio with violations of the IAAF anti-doping rules.
"The AIU has provisionally suspended Kenyan long-distance runner Sarah Chepchirchir with immediate effect for violation of the IAAF anti-doping rules," the AIU confirmed on Monday.
Chepchirchir came to prominence on Feb. 26, 2017 when she posted a tremendous breakthrough performance of 2:19:47 to win the women's title at the Tokyo race that is part of the prestigious World Marathon Majors elite circuit.
