Kenyan marathoner Cornelius Kibet Kiplagat has been slapped with a five-year ban from competition after inadvertently injecting himself with a banned substance. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed Kiplagat's plight on Monday, September 29, revealing that the 31-year-old tested positive for two prohibited substances, EPO and CERA. EPO (Erythropoietin) and CERA (Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator) are synthetic substances that stimulate the production of red blood cells.
In medicine, they are used to treat anaemia, particularly in patients with kidney disease.
However, in sports, they are prohibited because of their performance-enhancing properties since they transport more oxygen to the muscles, boosting an athlete's endurance. Kenyan marathoner Cornelius Kiplagat during a past race.
Photo World Athletics.
