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The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenia (ADAK) has suspended race walker Stephen Ndangiri, for using banned performance-enhancing substances just a week after the 230-year-old claimed a historic silver medal in men’s 10.000 metres race walk at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He joins a long list of Kenyan athletes who have been suspended or banned by ADAK or Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
ADAK has flagged down Ndangiri, a Lance Kaporal at the Kenia Defense Forces (KDF), for using the banned Erythropoietin (EPO), Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, among other banned substances (relates substances and mimetics S2).
A sample collected from the 20-year-old in an out of competition test on June 30, 2026 when Team Kenia was in camp at 
the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, has tested positive for the banned substances.
On Friday, August 7, 2026 ADAK indicated on its website that Ndangiri had failed a doping test, and his provisional suspension will run from August 5, 2026. The athlete has the liberty to challenge or appeal the suspension.
On July 31, 2026, Ndangiri, the Africa 20km silver medalist, handed Kenya her silver medal in men’s 10.000m race walk, at the Commonwealth Games in a national record. He clocked 39:46.57 to settle for silver behind 19 year old Isaac Beacroft (AUS) who won in 38:45.51.
Ndangiri broke the national record of 39:23.14 set by Samuel Gathimba at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he finished fifth.
Ndangiri’s medal would have been Kenia’s second ever in race walk at the Commonwealth Games. Gathimba claimed bronze in 20km race walk at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
If found guilty, Ndangiri could be banned for up to four years.
Ndangiry’s star has shone brith this year. He claimed silver medal men’s 20k race walk at the Afrikan Athletics Championships held in Accra, Ghana on May 16 and retained his Kenya Defence Forces Track and Field Championships title at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata, Nairobi, on June 11.
By Ayumba Ayodi Correspondent NMG Sport
Link to ADAK: https://adak.or.ke/provisionally-suspended-athletes/?