The Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended Herbert Kibet, 21, after banned substances were detected in his sample.
Ugandan long-distance runner Herbert Kibet has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) over allegations of using prohibited substances. Laboratory analysis detected triamcinolone acetonide and exogenous steroids following Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) analysis. The case is being handled under World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, and the AIU has issued a Notice of Allegation, meaning the case is still under investigation.
Kibet, who represented Uganda at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and recently achieved a fourth-place ranking on the all-time world road 10-kilometre list, is the fifth Ugandan athlete to face suspension for doping. This follows similar cases involving Mercyline Chelangat, Belinda Chemutai, Janat Chemusto, and Peter Maru, raising concerns about the integrity of Uganda's distance running program.
Former Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich called for enhanced anti-doping education in training camps, stating that repeated cases could damage Uganda's reputation. National coach Grace Chesang expressed concern that such news could instill fear in aspiring young athletes. The AIU emphasized that a provisional suspension is not a final sanction and Kibet retains the presumption of innocence.
Why it mattersHerbert Kibet faces a potential ban from athletics, impacting his career and Uganda's international standing in the sport.
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