Kenyan-born American middle-distance runner Jonah Koech has been handed a three-year ban for blood doping, bringing a premature end to his hopes of competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that the 29-year-old accepted a sanction for the use of a prohibited substance and/or method after irregularities were detected through his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).Koech will remain ineligible to compete until 17 July 2029, effectively ruling him out of the Los Angeles Olympics, and stripping him of all competitive results recorded from 30 July 2025.##NAJAVA_MECA_9889396##USADA said the violation came to light after identifying highly atypical blood values in Koech's Athlete Biological Passport, a system that monitors an athlete's blood profile over time to detect signs of doping without the need for a positive drug test."The athlete has accepted a three-year period of ineligibility for the use of a prohibited substance and/or method," USADA said, adding that Koech has been disqualified from all results obtained on and after 30 July 2025, including the forfeiture of medals, points and prize money.The sanction wipes out what had been the biggest breakthrough of Koech's professional career.Kenya formally submits bid to host 2029 World Athletics ChampionshipsLast year, the former Kenyan runner stunned the American athletics scene by winning the men's 1,500m title at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He clocked a personal best and championship record of 3:30.17, finishing ahead of Ethan Strand and reigning Olympic champion Cole Hocker to secure qualification for the 2025 World Championships.That national title has now been stripped following the anti-doping ruling.Kenyan youngster reveals how double Olympic champion inspired World U20 gold medal runHis last appearance on the track came at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he finished 13th in the 1,500m final before stepping away from competition.According to USADA, blood samples collected from Koech before and after the national championships on 30 July and 8 August 2025, revealed abnormalities consistent with blood doping.Blood doping refers to methods used to artificially increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of an athlete's blood, improving endurance performance. Kenya’s snap extra medals on final day to finish second globally at WU20 ChampionshipsThe practice can involve blood transfusions or the use of erythropoietin receptor agonists (ERAs), drugs typically prescribed to treat anaemia by stimulating red blood cell production.While such methods can significantly enhance endurance, they are prohibited in sport because they provide an unfair competitive advantage and can expose athletes to serious health risks, including blood clots and strokes.USADA noted that violations involving blood doping typically carry a four-year suspension. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9889788##However, Koech's decision to admit the violation reduced the period of ineligibility to three years under anti-doping regulations.Born in Kenya, Koech moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue collegiate athletics, competing until 2019, before becoming eligible to represent the United States internationally in June 2021.Grand Slam Track founder says all athletes in his league now paidLast year, Koech returned to Kenya in style, winning the men's 800m at the Kip Keino Classic held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi after clocking a personal best time of 1:43.32.The suspension not only erases the biggest achievements of his career but also closes the door on what would have been his opportunity to compete at a home Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. By the time his ban expires in July 2029, Koech will be 32 years old and will have spent nearly four years away from elite competition.