Former world record holder Kandie banned for seven-year

Kenyan distance runner Kibiwott Kandie will be sidelined from athletics until 2032 after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) imposed a seven-year ban for two anti-doping rule violations.
The former half-marathon world record holder was found guilty of refusing to submit to a doping test and of tampering, or attempting to tamper, with the doping control process. The AIU confirmed the sanction on Thursday.
Kandie, 30, was initially facing an eight-year suspension. However, the penalty was reduced by one year after he admitted the violations and accepted the consequences early in the disciplinary proceedings.
His period of ineligibility began on March 14, 2025, when he was provisionally suspended, and will expire on March 13, 2032.
AIU chief Brett Clothier said the case underlined the importance of strict compliance with anti-doping regulations.
“No athlete is above the rules,” Clothier said, stressing that refusing to undergo testing threatens the credibility of the sport. He added that the AIU would continue using its investigative and forensic resources to uncover the full circumstances surrounding suspected violations.
The case stems from an attempted out-of-competition test conducted at Kandie’s residence in Kenya on March 1, 2025. Investigators said the athlete delayed the process before ultimately declining to provide a sample, claiming he needed to deal with an urgent financial matter despite being informed of the consequences.
Further inquiries by the AIU uncovered evidence that raised additional concerns. An examination of phone and banking records revealed repeated contact and financial transactions involving a nurse, with investigators identifying 11 separate transfers in the year preceding the missed test. The findings were made with assistance from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.
The AIU also concluded that explanations offered by Kandie for his refusal to be tested were untrue. Authorities in Kenya further determined that documents submitted by the athlete during the investigation were not genuine.
Kandie enjoyed considerable success on the roads, winning the Valencia Half Marathon three times and setting a world record of 57 minutes and 32 seconds in 2020.
Despite losing the record, he remains among the greatest half-marathon performers in history, ranking third on the all-time list and accounting for two of the six fastest times ever recorded.