Ugandan long-distance runner Mercyline Chelangat has been suspended from competition after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) charged her with an anti-doping rule violation involving a prohibited substance.
The AIU confirmed that the 28-year-old tested positive for testosterone, a substance banned under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. As a result, Chelangat has been issued with a formal notice of charge and is currently serving a suspension as investigations continue.
Chelangat is one of Uganda’s most accomplished female distance runners of the past decade. She won bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, clocking 31:48.41, and later finished 12th at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala. Her career highlights also include holding the national half marathon record in 2021 and winning the Ugandan national cross-country title in 2022.
On the track, Chelangat’s personal best over 10,000 metres stands at 31:15.05, set at the 2021 Hengelo Diamond League meeting in the Netherlands. She has since transitioned successfully to road racing, recording a marathon best of 2:24:12 at the 2023 Enschede Marathon.
The suspension represents a major setback for an athlete who has consistently ranked among Uganda’s leading endurance runners and was viewed as a key figure in the country’s long-distance programme.
The Athletics Integrity Unit has reiterated its commitment to enforcing anti-doping regulations in athletics, emphasizing that strict liability applies to all athletes regardless of intent or background.
Chelangat’s case now moves through the formal disciplinary process, with the outcome set to determine the length and final status of her suspension.
