Doping ban for runner who beat Willis

AUCKLAND: The man who ended up beating New Zealander Nick Willis for Olympic gold has been banned for doping.

Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop returned a positive for erythropoietin in November 2017, in an outofcompetition test.

Willis crossed the line third in the 2008 Beijing 1500m, behind Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi and Kiprop. But Kiprop and Willis had their medals upgraded when Ramzi was exposed as a drugs cheat. Willis was finally presented with his silver medal at Newtown Park in Wellington in early 2011.

Last year, Willis said the race in Beijing was still a career highlight, despite the controversy.

‘‘That [Beijing race] is still the highlight of my sporting career. I couldn’t have been any more joyful than I was that day.

‘‘Potentially, people left and right of you could be doping, but that’s irrelevant because you’re trying to get the most out of yourself. Otherwise it makes you angry or bitter and you can’t perform to your best.’’

The 29yearold Kenyan, a triple world champion, has reportedly claimed his sample may have been tampered with, but antidoping bosses said the case was ‘‘convincingly made out’’.

The Athletics Integrity Unit decreed his results and winnings between November 2017 and February 2018 should be scrapped. He was initially suspended last year.

Kiprop has said: ‘‘I have been left to fight this on my own. I have had no support even from my fellow athletes, some who have questioned my integrity in public’’.

A massive 138 Kenyan athletes have tested positive in antidoping campaigns since 2004. — NZME