Kenya’s Sheila Chelangat handed six-year ban for EPO violations
Kenyan long distance runner Sheila Chelangat has been banned for six years by the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal after testing positive for the prohibited substance erythropoietin (EPO).
The sanction, which runs from 20 May 2025, also disqualifies her competitive results dating back to September 2024.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) charged Chelangat, 27, with two anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs): the presence and use of EPO.
The first violation stemmed from a urine sample collected on 15 September 2024 at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, initially reported negative but later re-analysed to reveal EPO.
The second violation came from a blood sample taken out-of-competition on 7 March 2025 in Japan, ahead of the Nagoya Women’s Marathon, which also confirmed the presence of EPO.
Chelangat denied wrongdoing, claiming irregularities in the collection and transportation of her samples. She also raised concerns about errors in the AIU’s notices, including confusion over whether her second sample was urine or blood.
However, the Tribunal found no evidence of procedural departures that could explain the adverse findings.
The Sole Arbitrator, Raj Parker, ruled that Chelangat had committed ADRVs under Rules 2.1 and 2.2 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. The Tribunal noted that EPO is a non-specified substance prohibited at all times and concluded that Chelangat had provided no explanation or evidence to rebut the charges.
Given the seriousness of the violations and the AIU’s submission of aggravating circumstances, the Tribunal imposed a six-year period of ineligibility. Chelangat’s provisional suspension, which began on 20 May 2025, will count towards the ban.
Her results from 15 September 2024, including her performance at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, have been disqualified.
Chelangat, who previously represented Kenya at the World U18 Championships (2015), World U20 Championships (2016), and World Cross Country Championships (2018), now faces a lengthy absence from athletics.
