Kenyan marathon runner Felix Kirwa has been banned for nine months after testing positive for strychnine, a drug commonly known as rat poison.
The Athletics Integrity Unit says Kirwa has been banned until November 14 and disqualified from his second-place finish at the Singapore Marathon in December.
Kirwa is the brother of 2016 Olympic women’s marathon silver medallist Eunice Kirwa, who ran for Bahrain at the Games and was provisionally suspended last month after testing positive for EPO.
Felix Kirwa’s wins include the 2016 Singapore Marathon. He peaked at No. 104 in the event’s world rankings this year.
Strychnine is on the anti-doping list due to its effects as a stimulant and can give an athlete the ability to go for longer without feeling tired. Read more
