Asbel Kiprop handed four-year doping ban

Kiprop, a three-time world champion, tested positive for banned blood-booster EPO in November last year.

The 29-year-old Kenyan has long protested his innocence, suggesting his urine sample may have been tampered with by testers who tipped him off about their visit and took a payment from him.

The AIU, an Independent body set up to combat corruption and unethical conduct within athletics on behalf of the sport's ruling body the IAAF, said it had investigated and was satisfied there was no interference with Kiprop's sample.

The AIU said Kiprop had been given advance notice which contravenes the World Anti-Doping Agency's guidelines stating that out-of-competition tests should be conducted without prior notice to athletes.

Kiprop’s ban is backdated to February 3, 2018 when he was provisionally suspended after the failed test.

It is the latest in a long line of doping cases in the east African nation, where around 50 athletes have failed tests in recent years.