Jonah Koech banned for three years by USADA after ABP abnormalities

Jonah Koech, the US 1500m champion, was issued a three-year ban by the US Anti-Doping Agency on 10 August 2026 after abnormalities in his athlete biological passport linked to blood doping, following his 2025 US Outdoor Championships 1500m victory.

Koech had been the surprise winner of the men's 1500m at the US Outdoor Championships last year, finishing ahead of Ethan Strand and 2024 Olympic gold medallist Cole Hocker in a meet record 3 minutes 30.17 seconds; he also won the 1500m at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat in May 2025. USADA said the violation was identified after "highly atypical blood values in his athlete biological passport (ABP)", noting that an ABP tracks blood values over time to identify signs of doping even without a positive drug test. The agency confirmed Koech accepted the period of ineligibility.

USADA's notice included the athlete's acceptance "for the use of a prohibited substance and/or method" and stated: "Koech has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to 30 July 2025, the date of his first abnormal blood sample, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes." The sanction therefore removes competitive results from that 30 July 2025 cutoff onward.

Koech's blood samples were taken before and after the US Outdoor Championships on 30 July and 8 August last year, according to USADA. He has not competed since placing 13th in the 1500m final at the World Championships in Tokyo last September.

Born in Kenya, Koech competed in US collegiate athletics from 2015 to 2019 and became eligible to represent the United States in June 2021. His 2025 US national title has been stripped as a result of the disqualification.

USADA's ruling disqualifies his results from 30 July 2025 onward and mandates the forfeiture of medals, points and prizes as specified in the agency's statement.