Kibiwot Candy was initially given an eight-year suspension split evenly for the two offenses, but his sentence was reduced by one year.
Published June 25, 2026
Former half marathon world record holder Kibiwot Candy has been suspended for seven years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for two anti-doping violations, the organization announced.
The 30-year-old Kenyan, a bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was provisionally suspended in March 2025 for refusing to provide a sample and was later charged with an additional offense of cheating or attempted cheating in doping control.
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“This incident is a reminder that no athlete is above the rules in track and field. If an athlete refuses to be tested, the integrity of the sport is at risk,” AIU President Brett Clothier said in a statement Thursday.
“The AIU has strong forensic capabilities and thoroughly investigates cases like this to ensure the truth comes out,” he added.
Candy initially received an evenly divided eight-year suspension for the two offenses, but received a one-year reduction after accepting the sanction early.
His suspension is retroactive to a provisional suspension date of March 14, 2025, and will continue until March 13, 2032, when he will be 36 years old.
On March 1, 2025, despite being warned of the results, Candy postponed and ultimately refused an out-of-competition test at his home in Kenya, citing an emergency payment prior to departure.
After coordinating with the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency, the AIU’s analysis of his phone and financial records showed multiple calls and payments related to the nurse, and identified 11 money transfers in the 12 months prior to the test.
Mr. Candy’s initial explanation for refusing to provide samples was later found to be false, and Kenyan authorities confirmed that the documents he submitted were fake.
Candy, a three-time Valencia Half Marathon winner, set the then-world record of 57 minutes and 32 seconds in 2020 and remains the third-fastest distance runner in history, with two of the six fastest performances in history.
