Kenyan race walker Stephen Ndangiri Kihu has been banned with immediate effect for testing positive for the banned substance EPO, reports the BBC in Kenya.
The runner secured silver for his nation at the recent 2026 Commonwealth Games in the men’s 10,000m race walk and was a national record holder in the event, but tested positive following the event. EPO, which boosts oxygen levels, can be punished with a four-year ban by World Anti-Doping regulations.
It is the most recent in a string of Kenyan runners facing this charge and has led to more concerns for the East African nation.
About two dozen runners were given tentative bans during the calendar year 2026 for the use of substances to enhance their performance. He was provisionally suspended in July and August 2026
