Kenyan marathon runner failed ‘A’ sample doping test in September

Athletics Kenya has confirmed that Rita Jeptoo’s ‘B’ sample tested positive for EPO, reports AFP.

The Kenyan marathon runner had failed an ‘A’ sample doping test during out of competition testing in Kenya in September, with the news first broken by website RunBlogRun at the end of October.

News of that failed test led to the postponement of the awards ceremony for the 2013-14 World Marathon Majors (WMM) series, which had been due to take place after its final race, the TCS New York City Marathon, on November 2.

Jeptoo had been due to collect the women’s series prize, including a cheque for $500,000, at the awards ceremony after having secured her WMM series victory with a win at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which took place on October 12, after the out of competition test.

Earlier in the year she had also successfully defended her Boston Marathon title in a course record time of 2:18:57 and topped the WMM series table with a maximum 100 points. She was the first athlete in the history of the race series to have claimed the maximum points available.

Athletics Kenya is reported to have said that a hearing for Jeptoo’s case is due to take place in January.

News of Jeptoo’s ‘B’ sample result follows reports that fellow Kenyan distance runners Viola Chelangat Kimetto and Joyce Jemutai Kiplimo have each received two-year bans after testing positive for norandrosterone.

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