Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir provisionally suspended after EPO finding
publishers 12articles 12first reported 23 Oct, 13:45 UTCdeveloping since 23 Oct · 7 editions
Kenyan world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended after an out-of-competition sample returned an adverse analytical finding for erythropoietin (EPO), the Athletics Integrity Unit said Friday.
The sample was collected in Kenya before Jepchirchir won the Sydney Marathon in August. EPO is prohibited because it increases red blood cell production. A provisional suspension applies while the case proceeds through the anti-doping process.
Jepchirchir, 33, won the Sydney women’s race in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds, finishing more than three minutes ahead of fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai. Sydney Marathon organisers said they were “extremely disappointed” but noted that Jepchirchir was entitled to due process and said they would not comment further until the case concludes.
Her agent, Gianni Demadonna, said he felt “terrible about what happened” and that athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs should be disqualified.
Jepchirchir won Olympic marathon gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and the world marathon title in 2025. She has also won major marathons in New York, Boston, London and Sydney and previously held the half-marathon world record.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 3 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 3 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 10 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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