The Athletics Integrity United (AIU) banned Kenyan distance runner Rodgers Kwemoi for six years, citing 18 instances of suspected blood doping following abnormalities in his athlete biological passport.

Most of the incidents, which spanned from July 2016 through September 2022, occurred ahead of major competitions, according to the AIU, which said Kwemoi “engaged in a deliberate, systematic and sophisticated doping regime”.

It was not immediately possible to locate Kwemoi for comment, and Athletics Kenya did not also immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kwemoi, whose signature event is the 10,000 metres, took bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and finished fourth at the 2019 world championships.

• A Reuters report