The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Kenyan marathon runner Titus Ekiru received a decade doping ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for multiple positive doping tests and tampering, the anti-doping organization said in a statement.
"The AIU has banned Titus Ekiru for 10 years, from 28 June 2022, for the Presence of Prohibited Substances (Triamcinolone Acetonide and metabolite; Pethidine and metabolite) and for tampering," the statement read.
Ekiru tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide after winning the 2021 Milan Marathon in 2:02:57–the sixth-fastest time in history.
The AIU also revealed Ekiru's conspiracy with a senior doctor in Kenya, from whom the athlete received injections of triamcinolone acetonide on two occasions (April 29, 2021 and May 6, 2021) during undocumented visits to the hospital.
"The senior doctor claimed Ekiru’s visits were unrecorded by the hospital as the athlete had attended early in the morning, before the registration offices had opened," the AIU stated.
Triamcinolone acetonide has been prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2014 as it helps athletes lose weight without significantly reducing power.
The second adverse analytical finding was provided during the Abu Dhabi competition on November 26, when traces of pethidine and metabolite norpethidine were found in the sample.
After a review of the case, his results in all races from 2021 onward were nullified, and he was ordered to forfeit all prizes and race money.