Kenya’s world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been handed a provisional suspension after a sample tested positive for EPO, a banned blood booster. The Athletics Integrity Unit made the announcement, saying the sample was taken before her victory at the Sydney Marathon.
The AIU said the sample was collected out of competition in Kenya. It returned an adverse analytical finding for erythropoietin, the substance known as EPO, which increases the production of red blood cells.
Agent and Sydney organisers react to the suspension
Her agent, Gianni Demadonna, said in an emailed statement that he felt terrible about what had happened. He added that an athlete who uses performance-enhancing drugs should be disqualified.
Sydney Marathon organisers said they were “extremely disappointed” to hear of the provisional suspension. They said Jepchirchir was entitled to due process and that they would not comment further until it concluded.
In a social media statement, the organisers stressed their commitment to clean sport. They said that, together with the other Abbott World Marathon Majors, they had funded more out-of-competition testing in partnership with the AIU.
A four-time World Marathon Majors winner
The 33-year-old is a former Olympic champion and holds the half-marathon world record. She has also won four World Marathon Majors titles.
She claimed gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Her other major marathon victories came in New York in 2021, Boston in 2022, London in 2024 and Sydney in 2026.
Sydney result and last year’s doping case in Kenya
Jepchirchir won the women’s race in Sydney in August, finishing in 2:18:31. She was more than three minutes ahead of second-placed compatriot Irine Cheptai.
Last year, Kenya’s women’s marathon world record holder, Ruth Chepngetich, was banned for three years. She admitted anti-doping rule violations involving hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a prohibited diuretic. Her world record of 2:09:56 still stands because it was set before her positive test.
