Kibiwott Kandie took almost half a minute off the world half-marathon record with 57:32 in Valencia at the end of the 2020 season but now, just over five years later, he has been given a provisional suspension for breaking anti-doping rules.
At the time we described Kandie as “enjoying the sweet taste of success” in Valencia but the latest news leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
The Kenyan has been charged with “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection”, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit.
The 28-year-old is the latest high-profile Kenyan athlete to receive a punishment for breaking anti-doping rules.
In addition to his half-marathon record, which has since been improved and now stands at 56:42 by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, Kandie won a silver medal at the 2020 World Half-Marathon Championships and has won major half-marathon races in Prague, Istanbul and Ras al Khaimah.
Over 10km he has run 26:50 from 2022, whereas at the marathon his best is 2:04:48 in 2023.
Away from the roads, he was part of the Kenya team that took gold in the senior men’s race at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in 2023.
On the track, he won bronze in the 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
By Amos Amoako
