Kenyan runner Kibiwott Kandie, the former half marathon world record holder, has been banned for seven years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after admitting to two anti-doping rule violations, the organization announced today.
The 30-year-old Kenyan, who has been suspended from competition since March 2025, was found guilty by the AIU of refusing to submit to sample collection and tampering with the doping control process.
Kandie faced a maximum suspension of eight years—four years for violating anti-doping rules and another four years for tampering—but received a one-year reduction for admitting to the charges and accepting the sanction early.
The three-time champion of the Valencia Half Marathon (2020, 2022, and 2023) set the then-world record of 57:32 minutes in 2020. He remains the third-fastest runner of all time in the half marathon, trailing only Jacob Kiplimo and Yomif Kejelcha.
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Furthermore, he holds two of the six fastest times ever recorded in the half marathon.
In a demonstration of the AIU’s investigative capacity, Kandie’s initial explanations for refusing to provide a sample were exposed as false after the organization conducted a forensic analysis of his phone and financial records, in addition to coordinating with Kenyan authorities to confirm that the documents submitted by the Kenyan athlete were forged.
After being provisionally suspended on March 14, 2025, for refusing to submit to an anti-doping test, Kandie was charged again by the AIU for tampering on May 6, 2026.
Kandie admitted to both violations and accepted the stipulated period of ineligibility.
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“This case serves as a reminder that no athlete is above the rules in the sport of athletics. The AIU conducts a sophisticated anti-doping program that rigorously tests the best athletes in the world and, if an athlete refuses to take a test, it puts the integrity of the sport at risk. The AIU has strong forensic capabilities and will thoroughly investigate these cases to ensure that the truth comes out in the end,” highlighted Australia’s Brett Clothier, head of the organization, in a statement.
