Kenyan athlete Rhonex Kipruto, known for his 10km road race world record, has been suspended for six years due to irregularities found in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). The 24-year-old will lose his 2020 Valencia record and his 2019 World Championships 10,000m bronze medal. His ban, which started provisionally on May 11, 2023, for doping violations, will last until May 2029.
An ABP tracks an athlete’s biological markers over time, highlighting potential doping if significant changes are detected.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) issued the ban, rejecting Kipruto’s defense and attributing the irregularities to likely blood manipulation, possibly involving recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO). The tribunal found no other plausible explanation for the abnormal readings.
The disciplinary committee expressed strong belief in Kipruto’s breach of Anti-Doping Rules. He has the option to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch shared insights with BuzzFeed about the origins and symptoms of “brain worms.” She explained that these are parasitic organisms that invade human bodies, with the most common type being the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, which causes neurocysticercosis. Dr. Grunch noted that humans typically contract these tiny tapeworms by consuming raw or undercooked pork that contains the parasite.
It’s fascinating to understand how a parasite that enters our digestive system can reach the brain. Dr. Grunch explained that while the adult worm itself cannot travel to the brain, its larvae can. After the parasite enters the intestines, it reproduces and releases eggs. If these eggs are not expelled with feces, they can hatch into larvae. The larvae then enter the bloodstream and can travel to various organs, including the brain. Furthermore, tapeworms can spread from person to person if proper hygiene, such as washing hands after using the restroom, is neglected.
Dr. Grunch pointed out that gastrointestinal issues are the primary signs of a tapeworm infection. “Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and weight loss,” she stated. These symptoms might be mistaken for food poisoning and often resolve quickly, but a tapeworm could be silently infecting the brain over a long period. “Neurological symptoms, such as nausea, seizures, and headaches, can emerge months or even years later, typically only after the larvae have died,” Dr. Grunch explained. Neurocysticercosis, which can affect both children and adults, is diagnosable through advanced testing methods. To prevent such infections, it is crucial to avoid consuming raw or undercooked pork and to practice good hand hygiene.