AIU Hands Five-Year Ban to Deborah Sang After Testosterone, Prednisolone Findings
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Kenyan athlete Deborah Sang for five years following multiple anti-doping rule violations involving the presence and use of prohibited substances.
Sang’s first violation stemmed from a urine sample collected in-competition at the 38th Comtrade Belgrade Marathon on 6 April 2025.
Initially reported negative, further analysis conducted in March 2026 revealed the presence of testosterone and its metabolite 5β-androstane-3α,17 diol, consistent with exogenous origin.
A second violation was recorded at the Riyadh Marathon on 31 January 2026, where analysis confirmed the presence of prednisone and prednisolone.
Sang did not hold a Therapeutic Use Exemption for either substance, and a prior application for oral prednisolone had been denied by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.
On 11 March 2026, the AIU issued a Notice of Allegation and imposed a provisional suspension. Sang admitted the violations during an interview on 24 March 2026 and signed an acceptance of consequences the following day.
Under the Anti-Doping Rules, the violations were treated as a single first offence. Testosterone, classified as a non-specified substance prohibited at all times, carried the more severe sanction of four years.
The use of multiple prohibited substances constituted aggravating circumstances, extending the sanction to six years. However, Sang’s early admission and acceptance of sanction reduced the period of ineligibility to five years.
Her ban commenced on 11 March 2026, the date of provisional suspension, and includes disqualification of all results since 6 April 2025, with forfeiture of medals, titles, awards, points, prize money and appearance fees.
The AIU confirmed the decision on 21 May 2026 in Monaco. In line with anti-doping regulations, the ruling will be published on the AIU website. Both WADA and ADAK retain the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
