Kenyan trail running star Joyline Chepngeno has been handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone Acetonide. The ban follows her triumph at the prestigious 2025 Sierre-Zinal race, one of the world’s most competitive mountain running events.
The Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed that Chepngeno’s results from August 9, 2025, onward have been annulled. This includes her victories at Sierre-Zinal and the 2025 OCC, as well as podium finishes that cemented her as one of the fastest-rising names in mountain and trail running.
The 27-year-old athlete admitted to receiving an injection in her knee in July 2025 to treat pain but claimed she was unaware the medication contained a banned corticosteroid. While expressing regret for what she described as an honest mistake, she formally accepted the sanctions, which include disqualification, loss of titles, and forfeiture of prize money.
Chepngeno’s suspension has reshaped the results of several major races. Caroline Kimutai has been declared the new 2025 Sierre-Zinal women’s champion, with American runner Katie Schide moving up to second place and Switzerland’s Maude Mathys to third. The reshuffle adds to the complex history of doping controversies in elite trail running, with Mathys herself having faced scrutiny in past years.
The scandal has also drawn in Chepngeno’s coach, Julien Lyon, who has now been sanctioned by the Sierre-Zinal organizers. Lyon, head of the Milimani Runners team, has been linked to multiple doping cases, including the suspension of Mark Kangogo in 2022. As a result, Lyon and all Milimani Runners athletes have been barred from future editions of the race.
This latest ban highlights the ongoing doping crisis in Kenyan distance running. In recent years, the country has led the world in doping violations, sparking growing debate over the integrity of its endurance programs. The Chepngeno case serves as another reminder of the urgent need for stronger education, oversight, and accountability within the sport
