Kenyan road runner Philemon Kiplimo handed two-year doping ban

Kenyan long-distance runner Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo, 27, has been banned for two years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after admitting anti-doping rule violations involving the prohibited substance chlortalidone.

The ban took effect on September 1, 2026, and follows an out-of-competition urine test conducted on July 19 in Mwaita, Kenya. The AIU said a sample analysed by a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Paris, France returned an adverse analytical finding for chlortalidone, a diuretic and masking agent prohibited at all times under the 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency list.

Kiplimo was initially required to provide additional samples because his first four samples had a specific gravity below the level considered suitable for analysis. A subsequent sample with suitable specific gravity was tested and the laboratory reported the presence of chlortalidone.

According to the AIU decision dated September 17, Kiplimo told investigators during an interview on August 25 that he did not know what chlortalidone was. He disclosed that about a week before the test he had taken painkillers belonging to his wife to deal with pain after long runs. He added that he could not remember the name or appearance of the medication and also reported taking vitamins and dietary supplements.

Kiplimo later provided a photograph of a box labelled Olmecure-CT 40, which contains olmesartan medoxomil and chlortalidone.

The AIU noted that there was no Therapeutic Use Exemption for the substance, but found no evidence that the anti-doping violations were intentional. As chlortalidone is classified as a specified substance and this was Kiplimo's first anti-doping rule violation, the applicable sanction was two years rather than four.

In addition to the suspension, the AIU ordered the disqualification of Kiplimo's results from July 19, 2026, including the forfeiture of titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money.

Kiplimo is an international road-running figure, best known for his victory at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon, where he ran 58:53, making him one of the fastest 21-kilometre runners in the world.

The athlete admitted the violations and accepted the sanctions, waiving his right to a disciplinary hearing. The AIU's decision allows the World Anti-Doping Agency and Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.