Doping in athletics continues to be a persistent challenge, with new violations, provisional bans, and global debates shaping the sport’s integrity. In 2025, a number of high-profile cases and systemic concerns underscore the ongoing battle between fair play and illicit performance enhancement.
1. Kenyan Trail Runner Sanctioned: Joyline Chepngeno
Kenyan mountain runner Joyline Chepngeno was handed a two-year ban after testing positive for Triamcinolone Acetonide, a banned corticosteroid, following her August victory at the 2025 Sierre-Zinal race. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) annulled all her results from 9 August onward, and she forfeited titles and prize money tied to those performances.
2. Marathon Champion Suspended: Brimin Kipkorir
Kenyan marathoner Brimin Kipkorir, winner of multiple major marathons, is facing a provisional suspension for anti-doping rule violations involving EPO and Furosemide. His ban came as a result of out-of-competition testing in late 2024, with the AIU taking swift action in early 2025.
3. High Jumpers Banned: Kobielski & Bekh-Romanchuk
- Norbert Kobielski, a Polish high jumper, received a two-year suspension beginning May 2024 after testing positive for Pentedrone, a stimulant. All results from that date onward have been disqualified.
- Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, the Ukrainian long-jumper and triple-jumper, is serving a long-term suspension after testing positive for testosterone metabolites in an out-of-competition test. Her four-year ban runs through May 2029.
4. Masters Athletics Revelations
In an unexpected case, Michael Hooker, a 69-year-old American shot-put competitor, was issued a three-year ban for using Mesterolone and synthetic Testosterone at the US Masters Outdoor Championships. His age and level of competition stirred significant media attention.
5. Policy Developments and Regulatory Framework
- The 2025 WADA Prohibited List officially came into effect on January 1, clarifying additional substances and updating monitoring protocols. No major status changes occurred, but the list emphasized stronger inclusion of hormone modulators and masking agents.
- World Athletics President Sebastian Coe reaffirmed that blanket bans based on nationality are not acceptable, even as testing becomes more thorough and member federations deepen compliance programs.
6. Systemic Concerns and Enforcement
Kenya continues to draw attention: recent sanctions reflect a broader pattern of doping violations among endurance athletes. Experts warn of structural gaps in national anti-doping education and enforcement.
Athletics Integrity Unit maintains a public Global List of Ineligible Persons, updated periodically, as a central resource for tracking active suspensions and provisional bans across sports.
7. Broader Implications and Clean Sport Debate
Not all controversies involve violations—Enhanced Games, which openly permits performance-enhancing drugs while banning recreational substances, has sparked heated backlash from WADA and national bodies. Critics argue the concept undermines the foundations of clean sport, even as proponents call for alternative models of elite competition.
Summary Table: Doping Landscape in 2025
| Athlete / Case | Sanction / Status | Substance(s) |
| Joyline Chepngeno (Kenya) | 2-year ban, results annulled | Triamcinolone Acetonide |
| Brimin Kipkorir (Kenya) | Provisional suspension | EPO, Furosemide |
| Norbert Kobielski (Poland) | 2-year ban | Pentedrone |
| Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukraine) | 4-year ban through 2029 | Testosterone metabolites |
| Michael Hooker (USA, Masters) | 3-year ban, results deleted | Synthetic Testosterone, Mesterolone |
| Policy/WADA updates | 2025 Prohibited List enforced | Added masking agents and modulators |
Final Thoughts
These cases highlight that doping in athletics is not confined to elite or professional levels—it spans continents, disciplines, and age groups. Enforcement is growing stricter, testing is deeper, and international bodies are increasingly vocal in preserving sport integrity.
For ongoing tracking of athletics doping stories, updates on suspensions, and discussion about clean-sport policy developments, the Khelo Exchange and Kheloexch99 Website provide timely insights and analysis to keep fans informed on both controversies and reform efforts.