US 1500m champion Koech gets three-year doping ban

American middle‑distance runner Jonah Koech has been handed a three‑year suspension from athletics after the US Anti‑Doping Agency concluded that his biological passport displayed "highly atypical humor values successful his jock biologic passport (ABP)". The agency said the finding indicated doping activity even without a positive test. Koech, who emerged as the surprise victor in the men’s 1500 m at the US Outdoor Championships past year, finishing ahead of Ethan Strand and Olympic champion Cole Hocker with a time of 3 minutes 30.17 seconds, accepted the sanction "for the usage of a prohibited substance and/or method". Consequently, his championship result has been annulled and the 29‑year‑old’s record stripped. Read the full story at BBC News →