Kenyan Athlete Suspended For Rat Poison

Marathon runner Felix Kirwa has been served with a nine-month suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) having tested positive for strychnine, which is sometimes used as a rat poison.

Kirwa won the Singapore marathon in 2016. He has also been disqualified from his second-place finish at the event in December 2018. He has admitted to taking herbal medicines that included the banned substance.

Strychnine is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances.

Kirwa is one of around 50 athletes to have faced sanctions for doping violations in the past five years.