Former world record holder in the half marathon, Kibiwott Kandie, has been banned for seven years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for two anti-doping violations, according to a statement released April 4.
The 30-year-old Kenyan athlete, who won a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was provisionally suspended in March 2025 for refusing to provide a sample. He was later charged with tampering or attempting to tamper with the doping control process.
“This case is a reminder that no athlete is above the rules in our sport. When an athlete refuses a test, it puts the integrity of the sport at risk,” AIU head Brett Clothier said in the statement on Thursday. “The AIU has strong forensic capability and will investigate such cases thoroughly to ensure the truth is uncovered.”
Kandie initially faced an eight-year suspension, split evenly between the two violations. However, he received a one-year reduction after accepting sanctions early. The ban is backdated to March 14, 2025, the date of his provisional suspension, and will run until March 13, 2032, when Kandie will be 36.
On March 1, 2025, Kandie delayed and ultimately refused an out-of-competition test at his home in Kenya, citing an urgent need to make a payment before leaving, despite being warned of the consequences. Analysis of Kandie’s phone and financial records revealed multiple calls and payments linked to a nurse, with 11 money transfers identified in the 12 months prior to the test, after coordination with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.
Kandie’s initial explanations for refusing the sample were later found to be false. Kenyan authorities confirmed that documents he submitted were forged.
Kandie, a three-time Valencia Half Marathon champion, set the then-world record of 57:32 in 2020. He now ranks as the third-fastest man in history over the distance, with two of the six fastest times ever recorded.
