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The 29-year-old, who also won three world
championship golds, tested positive for the banned blood booster
erythropoietin (EPO) in November 2017.
Kiprop had argued his urine sample, which was taken out of
competition, could have been tampered with by his testers, who
had tipped him off about their visit and taken a payment from
him.
But the AIU, an independent body managing all doping-related
matters for athletics, said they were satisfied that there had
been no interference and an IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal on
Saturday suspended him for four years effective February 2018.
He had been tentatively suspended by the AIU in May last year.
"The (AIU) panel is aware that its order will interrupt, and may
even terminate, the athlete's sporting career and cast a shadow
over his impressive competitive record," it said in a statement.
"But in its opinion the laboratory results viewed in the context
of the evidential record and the regulatory framework unit admit
of no other conclusion than the case against the athlete is
convincingly made out."
Kiprop can appeal his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS). He continues to maintain his innocence.
“There is no justice in the world. Not every prisoner in jail is
guilty,” he told Kenyan media on Saturday. “I will consult my
lawyer to see if I will appeal at CAS but no matter the outcome
I will be back stronger.”
Kiprop was awarded the 1500m gold medal from the 2008 Summer
Olympics in Beijing after original winner Rashid Ramzi tested
positive for doping. Kiprop won his three world titles in 2011,
2013 and 2015.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru and Gene Cherry, editing
by Tony Lawrence)
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