Brimin Misoi Kipkorir, the Kenyan marathoner and two-time Frankfurt Marathon champion, has been handed a five-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following two doping violations. This lengthy suspension effectively ends his career, as he will be 39 years old by the time his ban concludes.
Kipkorir, who was provisionally suspended in February 2025, tested positive for the banned substance Furosemide during an out-of-competition urine test conducted in Kaptagat last November. Furosemide is a diuretic often used to mask the presence of other performance-enhancing substances, and its detection in Kipkorir’s sample raised red flags. He was notified of the positive test result in December 2024. However, he did not provide confirmation that he had a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), which would have allowed him to use the substance for legitimate medical reasons.
Further investigations revealed that Kipkorir had also used Erythropoietin (EPO), a banned blood booster that enhances oxygen transport in the body and is commonly used to improve endurance performance. The use of EPO is a serious violation of anti-doping regulations, and the AIU considered this to be a second offense. In response to the findings, Kipkorir initially sought to accept a two-year ban, but the AIU insisted that his violations warranted the maximum six-year suspension. The AIU, however, offered him the option of a reduced five-year ban if he admitted to the doping violations.
On February 25, 2025, Kipkorir formally accepted the terms of the reduction, acknowledging his guilt and agreeing to the five-year suspension. This ban will begin from the date of his provisional suspension, February 17, 2025. Given that he is now 34 years old, Kipkorir will be 39 by the time his ban ends, making it highly unlikely that he will return to competitive athletics after serving the suspension.
Kipkorir’s suspension comes at a time when he was at the peak of his career, having secured back-to-back victories in the Frankfurt Marathon in 2022 and 2023. His victory in 2023, where he clocked a personal best of 2:04:53, cemented his status as one of Kenya’s top marathoners. Despite facing injuries early in his career, Kipkorir showed immense resilience, with his first significant win coming in the 2017 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. He had faced setbacks earlier, including a 50th place finish at the 2016 Kass Marathon, but used that experience to fuel his determination to succeed.
Kipkorir’s path to the top was not without challenges. His career was plagued by injuries that forced him to drop out of major marathons such as the Lille and Gold Coast Marathons. However, after recovering from these setbacks, he was able to focus on his training and eventually achieve international success. His rapid rise in marathon running, particularly his victories in Frankfurt, had made him a household name in Kenyan athletics.
The news of his doping violations has been a significant blow to Kipkorir’s career and the reputation of Kenyan long-distance running, which has historically been associated with a strong anti-doping culture. Kipkorir’s case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by athletes in the fight against performance-enhancing drug use. As he now faces a lengthy ban, his achievements and potential for further success in the sport have been overshadowed by his actions, marking a sad end to a once-promising career.
