Kenya’s world marathon champ Jepchirchir suspended for doping
The Sydney Marathon winner's suspension adds to a growing list of Kenyan athletes facing doping sanctions.
Kenya's renowned marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended from competition for doping, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). The 33-year-old athlete, who earned Olympic gold in the 2021 Tokyo Games, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO in an out-of-competition sample. Jepchirchir was suspended after the sample was collected in Kenya prior to her recent victory at the Sydney Marathon.
She is only one of over 140 Kenyan athletes who have faced suspension or banishment by the AIU since 2017, including current women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich. Jepchirchir has an illustrious career, holding the former world record in the half-marathon and winning four World Marathon Majors, including the Sydney, London, Boston, and New York Marathons.
The awarding of the 2029 World Championships to Nairobi may intensify scrutiny of Kenya's anti-doping policies.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Marathon world champion Peres Jepchirchir suspended after positive EPO test sports.yahoo.com
- Olympic and world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir suspended in doping case winnipegfreepress.com
- World marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir provisionally suspended by AIU for doping kbc.co.ke
- World champion Jepchirchir fails drugs test bbc.co.uk
