Snapshot
Brimin Kipkorir Misoi, the reigning Sydney Marathon champion and course record holder, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for banned substances in an out-of-competition drug test, the Athletics Integrity Unit said in a statement.
The Kenyan marathoner’s suspension comes as a significant blow to the Sydney Marathon, which was recently added to the prestigious World Marathon Majors series.
Key facts
- Kipkorir tested positive for erythropoietin, or EPO, and furosemide during an out-of-competition sample collected on Nov. 22, 2024.
- EPO is the performance-enhancing drug that boosts red blood cell production, while furosemide is a diuretic often used as a masking agent.
- The AIU announced his provisional suspension, barring him from competition while the case is reviewed.
- Kipkorir set a course record of 2:06:18 at the 2024 Sydney Marathon.
- He won back-to-back Frankfurt Marathons in 2022 and 2023, achieving a personal best of 2:04:53 in the latter.
- His most recent race was the Taipei Marathon on Dec. 15, 2024, which he won in 2:11:41. It is unclear if he will repay this or any other recent winnings.
Crucial quote
“Runners are walking around with flashing dollar signs, and there are people telling them, ‘We can make you run faster,'” said Brett Clothier, head of the AIU of Kenyan athletes in the New York Times last fall.
Big picture
The timing of Kipkorir’s suspension is particularly damaging for the Sydney Marathon, which was recently elevated as the seventh race in the World Marathon Majors circuit. The event is set to join the ranks of the six existing majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York—on Aug. 31, 2025. The inclusion was meant to boost global prestige, increase tourism and attract top-tier elite runners. However, having the reigning champion embroiled in a doping scandal raises concerns about the race’s credibility just as it enters the elite ranks of marathon racing.
By the numbers
- 38,000: The estimated number of runners expected to participate in the Sydney Marathon by 2027, according to race organizers.
- 7: The Sydney Marathon is set to become the seventh event in the World Marathon Majors series in 2025.
- 5,000,000: How much money (in USD) the Kenyan government invested in anti-doping efforts in 2023. It’s less half of what the U.K. spends, and less than one third of what the U.S. federal government invests in its domestic program.
- 119: The number of Kenyan athletes who were suspended for doping violations in 2024, according to the AIU.
Key background
Kenya has been under increased scrutiny for doping violations in distance running, with several high-profile cases in recent years. Diana Kipyokei, the 2021 Boston Marathon winner, was stripped of her title in 2022 after testing positive for a banned substance. Lawrence Cherono, who won Amsterdam, Boston and Chicago in the span of 12 months in 2018-2019 and finished fourth in the 2021 Olympics, was banned from the sport for seven years in 2024. Ronex Kipruto, who was the 10K world record holder, was barred for six years, beginning in 2024, with his results erased going back to 2018.
The AIU and Kenyan athletics authorities have implemented stricter testing measures to combat the issue, but cases like Kipkorir’s continue to emerge, raising concerns about systemic doping practices, particularly in East Africa.
What’s next
Kipkorir’s case is now under review, and he has the option to contest the findings or request further testing. If found guilty, he could face a multi-year ban from the sport, jeopardizing his career. Meanwhile, Sydney Marathon organizers may need to enhance anti-doping measures to ensure the event’s credibility ahead of its World Marathon Majors debut.
Worth watching
The AIU has signaled that it will continue ramping up out-of-competition testing, particularly in Kenya, to deter doping violations. As more marathoners face scrutiny, the broader implications for the sport remain a major talking point ahead of the 2025 marathon season.
