This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The two-times world cross-country champion Emily Chebet has been suspended for four years after testing positive for a banned substance.

She was one of six Kenyans suspended by Athletics Kenya on Friday for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Chebet, who won the title in 2010 and 2013, will be banned until July 2019 after traces of furosemide – believed to be a masking agent – were found in her sample. She finished sixth at this year’s world cross-country championships in Guiyang, China behind her compatriot Agnes Jebet Tirop.

Kenya’s 400m hurdles champion Francisca Koki and 400m runner Joyce Zakari were also suspended for four years for use of furosemide. Both were provisionally suspended after testing positive at this summer’s world championships in Beijing.

AK announced two-year bans for Bernard Mwendia, Judy Jesire and Lilian Moraa, the latter two testing positive for Norandrosterone, while traces of Erythropoietin (EPO) were found in Moraa’s sample.

Lornah Kiplagat (@lornahkiplagat) 2 x WC XC Emily Chebet banned for 4 yrs. It makes me really sick to see how these "athletes" destroy our sport. Lets work on lifetime bans !

The sanctions mean that 43 Kenyan runners have been banned for doping since 2012.

The World Anti-Doping Agency announced last week that Kenya is already being investigated by the IAAF for alleged doping cover-ups since last March.

Last week, Kenyan athletes occupied the Athletics Kenya headquarters demanding the removal of its top officials in a protest against doping and corruption​.