Kenyan marathoner Purity Changwony’s career has suffered a major setback after she was banned from athletics for two years following multiple anti-doping rule violations. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced that Changwony tested positive for two banned substances—19-Norandrosterone and Triamcinolone acetonide—after an in-competition urine test during the Volkswagen Prague Marathon in May 2022.

The AIU notified her of the adverse findings in July 2022, prompting a provisional suspension. Following a lengthy investigation, Changwony admitted to the violations in April 2025 and accepted the imposed sanctions. As a result, her ban has been made retroactive to July 28, 2022, and all her competitive results from May 8, 2022, onward have been annulled.

This case highlights ongoing concerns about doping in Kenyan athletics. Notably, fellow Kenyan marathoner Judith Jerubet was also handed a two-year ban after testing positive for Triamcinolone acetonide during the 2024 Wuhan Marathon. Unlike Changwony, Jerubet did not respond to the AIU’s notice of charge.

The AIU continues to intensify its crackdown on doping as it aims to uphold the integrity of athletics globally, with Kenya remaining a focal point due to its high number of elite long-distance runners.