The 26:57 10km runner admitted to the anti-doping violation after he tested positive for the banned substance furosemide

Charles Kipkkurui Langat, winner of both the Barcelona and Lisbon Half Marathons, has received a two-year ban for violating anti-doping rules.

The 28-year-old was given the ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit after testing positive for the prohibited substance furosemide, which is a diuretic commonly used as a masking agent.

Langat's positive test came in an out-of-competition urine sample in Iten, Kenya, on August 6, 2024.

The Kenyan, who boasts personal bests of 26:57, 45:14 and 58:53 over 10km, 10 miles and the half-marathon respectively, admitted to unknowingly using the banned substance, claiming a doctor advised him on it.

Langat stated that he was suffering from inflammation since September 2023 and subsequently sought medical treatment in the Netherlands in April 2024.

The AIU has banned Charles Kipkkurui Langat (Kenya) for 2 years from 11 September 2024 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Furosemide). DQ results from 6 August 2024
Details here: https://t.co/glV9kOtGJt pic.twitter.com/5rWGj4BV8R

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) October 9, 2024

"His sickness worsened during his stay at a training camp in Iten, Kenya so on July 31 he contacted a doctor that he knew, who, based on the his symptoms, advised him to try using furosemide for four days to help reduce the inflammation he was experiencing and to ‘help the kidney and the adrenal glands’," the AIU said.

"Relying on this advice, on August 1, the athlete went to a chemist in Eldoret, Kenya where he bought furosemide. The athlete used furosemide once a day for four days between August 1 and August 4."

The AIU added that the Kenyan did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for furosemide but that his violations "were not intentional".

"Langat provided supporting medical documents to corroborate the medical treatment provided but failed to provide any documents or additional information in relation to his purchase of furosemide or the precise dosage that he consumed," the AIU said.

Langat's ineligibility begins from September 11, when he was provisionally suspended, and his results since August 6 will be disqualified.

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