Kenyan road runner Caren Chelagat has received a four-year ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for anti-doping rule violations.
In a statement dated September 4 by the AIU, Chelagat provided an in-competition urine sample on May 3, 2026, at the Durban International Marathon in South Africa.
“On 3 May 2026, the Athlete provided a urine Sample In-Competition at the Durban International Marathon in Durban, South Africa, which was given code 8434178 (the “First Sample”) pursuant to Testing conducted under the Testing Authority of World Athletics,” the statement read in part.
The World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Doha reported an adverse analytical finding on July 7, 2026, after detecting exogenous 19-Norandrosterone in her sample.
The substance is a metabolite associated with nandrolone and is classified as a prohibited non-specified substance under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List.
Caren Chelagat Four-Year Ban
Chelagat told representatives of the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya that she had never knowingly used a prohibited substance.
She said medical treatment she received shortly before the marathon could explain the finding, but she could not provide medical records to support the claim.
“She never knowingly used any Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods; the only possible explanation for the Adverse Analytical Finding was treatment she received at a medical facility a few days before the Durban International Marathon; and she would check her medical records relating to that treatment and provide them to ADAK,” the integrity unit stated.
The AIU said Chelagat did not request analysis of her B sample within the required deadline. She also failed to respond to the formal charge within the stipulated period.
Subsequently, the AIU deemed her to have admitted the anti-doping rule violations and accepted the proposed consequences under its rules.
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This four-year period of ineligibility began on July 17, 2026, the date of her provisional suspension.
“The Notice of Allegation of Anti-Doping Rule Violations of 17 July 2026 also imposed a Provisional Suspension (effective immediately), informed the Athlete of her right to the B Sample analysis and invited her to provide a detailed written explanation for the Adverse Analytical Finding by no later than 24 July 2026,” the AIU said.
Results Disqualified
AIU ruling also disqualifies Chelagat’s results from May 3, 2026, onward. This includes the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money arising from those results.
The AIU said this was Chelagat’s first anti-doping rule violation.
However, Caren Chelagat, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya have the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Caren Chelagat’s Athletics Profile
Caren Chelagat is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes primarily in road races, including marathons and 10-kilometre events.
Her marathon personal best is 2:40:40, recorded on June 26, 2022.
Chelagat has competed in several marathon and road-running events listed in the World Athletics database.
In February 2025, she finished third in the women’s 21-kilometre race at the Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) Marathon in Butere, Kakamega, clocking 1:23:53.
Her international athletics profile identifies her as a Kenyan road-running specialist.
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