Kenya's world marathon champion, Peres Jepchirchir, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned blood booster EPO, the Athletics Integrity Unit said, according to Al Jazeera.
The out-of-competition sample was taken in Kenya before her victory at the Sydney Marathon in August, which she won in 2 hours 18 minutes 31 seconds. Her agent said he felt terrible about the case and that athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs should be disqualified. Sydney Marathon organisers said she was entitled to due process and that they would not comment further until it was complete.
Jepchirchir, 33, is the 2021 Olympic champion and has won the New York, Boston and London marathons. Last year another Kenyan, women's world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, received a three-year ban.
Source: Al Jazeera
