Joyline Chepngeno Cheweno, the accomplished Kenyan ultra-marathon and distance runner, has been handed a two-year ban following a positive test for a prohibited substance. Chepngeno, known for her victories at the OCC UTMB Mont Blanc and Sierre Zinal events in 2025, will now see her achievements from that period disqualified.
The 27-year-old athlete tested positive for substances identified as anti-inflammatory agents and recovery aids. This discovery came after her triumph at the Sierre-Zinal WMRA Mountain Running Association World Cup in Switzerland, also held in 2025. Sierre-Zinal is renowned as a challenging 50-kilometer mountain race, typically held annually in August through the Valais region of Switzerland, featuring over 4,000 meters of elevation change.
According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the substances found in Chepngeno’s sample are explicitly forbidden. As a result of the ban, all of her achievements from August 9th, 2025, onwards will be disqualified. This includes her championship title at the OCC (Orsières-Champex-Trient), which is one of the three demanding challenges of the UTMB World Series, a premier trail running event held in France.
In response to the doping violation, the organizers of Sierre-Zinal have imposed a ban on Chepngeno, her coaching groups, and her running team from participating in all future events. They have also formally requested that Joyline Chepngeno refund her prize money to the organization.
The announcement of the ban has led to immediate repercussions from her sponsors. Several companies sponsoring the 27-year-old athlete have announced the immediate termination of their contracts, citing her actions as a violation of sports integrity and the values they uphold.
Following Chepngeno’s disqualification, the championship titles have been reallocated. Chinese athlete Miao Yao, who originally finished second during the OCC UTMB World Series in 2025, is now set to be recognized as the champion. Similarly, Caroline Kimutai will be instated as the Sierre Zinal 2025 champion.
