Ex- marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang banned for four years for violating anti-doping rules

Kenya's Wilson Kipsang celebrates after finishing second in the 43rd Berlin Marathon in Berlin on September 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO

Former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang has been suspended for four years  for Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs).

A statement published on Friday by the Athletics Integrity Unit states that Kipsang had four whereabouts failures between April 2018 and May 2019.

Three such failures within 12 months leads to an automatic ban.

In addition to location errors, Kipsang was found guilty of providing false evidence and testimony by the AIU.

The sanction takes effect from January 10, 2020, according to UAI.

"The World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal has banned long-distance runner Wilson Kipsang of Kenya for four years with effect from Jan. 10, 2020 for whereabouts failures and tampering by providing false evidence and witness testimony," the AIU said in a statement.

“The athlete engaged in fraudulent and deceitful conduct by providing deliberately misleading and false information to the AIU in an attempt to obstruct and delay the investigation into his explanation and/or prevent normal procedures from occurring, namely the recording of a Missed Test against him,”

The 38-year-old won major marathons in New York City, London, Berlin and Tokyo between 2012 and 2017.

Kipsang joins a list of compatriots who have been sanctioned in recent years, including 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong.