Kenyan Marathon runner Felix Kiptoo Kirwa has been banned from competition after he tested positive for strychnine, a highly toxic drug commonly known as rat poison.
The decision was announced by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which stated that Kirwa (23), was ineligible to compete for a period of nine months until November 2019.
The disciplinary body also announced that the athlete’s results would be disqualified from 9 December 2018 to 14 February 2019 with all resulting consequences including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money.
AIU noted that Kirwa underwent an in-competition doping control in December 2019 at the conclusion of his participation in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, where he finished second.
After testing, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in New Delhi reported the presence of Strychnine in the sample – it is a specified substance prohibited in-competition.
Kirwa is said to have admitted to having the substance in his system conveying that the chemical was present due to his use of herbal medicine products including ‘Arthritis Care’ and ‘Goodcare Arthplus’ to treat arthritis prior to the event.
