Kenya-Born Runner Suspended Over Alleged Doping

FILE: Kazakhstan's Norah Jeruto celebrates after winning the women's 3000 metres steeplechase final at the World Athletics Championships - Eugene, Oregon, U.S. - July 20, 2022.

MONACO - Kenyan runner Norah Jeruto, who won world championship gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase for Kazakhstan last year, has been provisionally suspended for alleged violation of anti-doping regulations, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

A notice of charge has been issued against Jeruto, 27, for the use of a prohibited substance or method, according to an entry on the website of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which oversees doping cases in track and field.

The AIU indicated the case involves her athlete biological passport, a mechanism for tracking competitors' blood values over a long period to flag up signs of possible doping.

A provisional suspension means she cannot compete until the case is resolved.

Jeruto won the African championship gold medal in the steeplechase in 2016 and the Diamond League title in 2021, both while representing Kenya.

FILE - Norah Jeruto, of Kazakhstan, celebrates after winning the women's 3000-meter steeplechase final at the World Athletics Championships on July 20, 2022, in Eugene, Oregon.

She switched allegiance to Kazakhstan last year, having missed the Tokyo Olympics while she waited for the switch to take effect, and won the Central Asian nation's first ever world track and field gold medal in championship-record time in Eugene, Oregon, last year.