World champion Peres Jepchirchir provisionally suspended after positive doping test
Out-of-competition sample in Kenya in August showed erythropoietin; suspension follows her Sydney Marathon victory on 30 August.
Peres Jepchirchir, the Kenyan marathoner who won Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021 and holds world championship titles, has been provisionally suspended after returning a positive doping result.
An out-of-competition sample taken in Kenya in August tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited substance that increases red blood cell production and endurance.
Test preceded Sydney victory
The positive result was registered before Jepchirchir’s triumph in the Sydney Marathon, held on 30 August, where she clocked 2:18:31. Organisers and the relevant athletics authorities have confirmed the provisional suspension while the case is under review.
Jepchirchir’s career includes wins at the New York, Boston and London marathons, a record that has made her one of the most prominent figures in women’s distance running.
The provisional suspension will remain in force until the anti-doping process is completed; any final sanction will depend on the outcome of the proceedings and possible B-sample analysis or legal challenges.
Photo: press material from the event
