Former London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto issues stern warning to dopers

One-time London Marathon winner Amos Kipruto has issued a stern warning to Kenyan runners who may be tempted to use performance-enhancing drugs. 

Kipruto, who helped the country bag a bronze medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar, made the remarks during the launch of the Kapsabet Half Marathon. 

According to the 31-year-old, runners, especially the upcoming ones, need to run clean and be satisfied with the earnings they receive. 

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“We know the monster we have now in Kenya is the doping issue. We urge the athletes to get what they want. It is better to earn little and have a longer career. 

Don’t try to earn more money by using shortcuts because shortcuts are always dangerous. I can tell my fellow athletes to run fairly and clean. Let us focus on the talent God has given us by not using shortcuts,” advised Kipruto.

The 2017 Seoul Marathon winner added that the thinking that doping is the only way to be rich needs to stop because it has cut short the careers of many brilliant runners.

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Meanwhile, Kipruto who made it to Kenya’s provisional marathon squad for the much-awaited 2024 Paris Olympic Games, requested the Kapsabet Half Marathon organizers to pay the prize money on time in order to attract more elite athletes in future. 

“I hope the prize money will be paid on time. If a race pays athletes on time, then the more they show up in subsequent events.

We have had so many local races die due to lack of or delayed payment. I want to urge the organizers of the Kapsabet Half Marathon to pay on time to gain a good reputation,” he commented.

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Kipruto has a personal best of 2:03.13 which he set at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon when he finished second behind compatriot Eliud Kipchoge.

He has also previously managed to finish second at the Berlin Marathon, doing so during the 2018 edition when he clocked 2:06.33.

The Kapsabet Half Marathon which has attracted a lot of local runners is scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 31.

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