Kenyan runner Kipsang misses out of competition dope test
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan distance runner Wilson Kipsang missed an out-of-competition drugs test in November, Athletics Kenya (AK) said on Tuesday.
AK said that according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules, a missed test would be recorded against the winner of this year's London and New York marathons, but there would be no sanction.
He can request for an administrative review of the decision. Athletes are deemed to have breached doping rules if they commit a total of three "whereabouts failures", within any 18-month period.
Kipsang, a bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2012 Olympics, was not immediately available to comment.
AK said that Kipsang missed the test on Nov. 13, and the athlete was requested by the IAAF to provide an explanation, which he did on Nov. 23.
Dozens of Kenyan athletes have failed dope tests in the past two years. Kenyan government officials have blamed the growing doping cases on foreign agents and Athletics Kenya's failure to educate its athletes properly.
AK said on Monday that Kenyan distance runners Viola Chelangat Kimetto and Joyce Jemutai Kiplimo failed drugs tests and will be banned for two years, adding that tests from five other Kenyan athletes have aroused suspicion.
In October, Kenya's Rita Jeptoo, winner of the Boston and Chicago Marathons for the last two years, failed an out-of-competition doping test, and was suspended from competition pending testing of a B sample to be done this week.
(Writing by James Macharia; editing by Toby Davis)
