Koech Banned, Stripped of US 1,500m Title

Kenyan-born American runner Jonah Koech has accepted a three-year suspension for blood doping and lost his 2025 U.S. 1,500-metre title, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced on Monday.

USADA identified highly atypical blood values in Koech’s Athlete Biological Passport following a sample collected on July 30, 2025, confirming the use of a prohibited substance.

The disciplinary action strips the 29-year-old athlete of all results achieved after the July 2025 sample date.

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This includes his U.S. outdoor title win in Eugene, Oregon, where he ran a personal best of 3:30.17, as well as his 13th-place finish at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Koech banned and stripped of US 1,500m title (News Central TV) — Koech was banned and stripped of the US 1,500m title. Credit: Runner’s World

USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart praised the outcome as proof that the Athlete Biological Passport effectively deters and detects cheating.

Koech’s three-year ban officially began on July 17, 2026.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.