Kenyan runner Peres Jepchirchir, the Olympic and world marathon champion, has been provisionally banned after testing positive for EPO, a prohibited substance, as confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Friday. Jepchirchir, who claimed victory in the women’s marathon at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and secured the world title last year, faces suspension following an out-of-competition drug test conducted in Kenya prior to her recent triumph at the Sydney Marathon. The AIU, responsible for investigating doping in track and field under World Athletics, disclosed that Jepchirchir’s sample showed an adverse result for EPO.
Having also held the world record in the half marathon, Jepchirchir’s win in the Sydney Marathon in August is now overshadowed by the doping controversy. This incident adds to a string of doping incidents involving Kenyan distance runners, a country that was recently chosen to host the 2029 world track championships.
