Kenyan athlete Daniel Wanjiru banned for 4 years over an anti-doping rule violation

Winner of the 2017 London Marathon, Daniel Wanjiru has been finally banned from athletics until 2023 for doping.

The Kenyan athlete was provisionally suspended in April after he denied taking a prohibited substance.

But following investigations by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the 28-year-old’s ban has been extended to December 8, 2023.

According to the AIU, Wanjiru’s blood samples showed levels of red blood cells that had no "physiological explanation".

He was tested 16 times between April 2017 and 2019. In his 14th test - on March 9, 2019 - he showed elevated levels of haemoglobin concentration.

The report published by AIU stated that the change in levels between tests could not "be explained by any other cause than blood manipulation".

The investigative panel thus concluded that it was "highly likely" a banned substance or method had been used.

Meanwhile, Wanjiru's management has expressed disappointment in the decision by the AIU.

The marathon winner is considering an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Wanjiru won the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon and finished eighth and 11th at the London Marathon in 2018 and 2019 respectively.