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BOSTON: This file picture dated April 21, 2014 shows Rita Jeptoo of crossing the finish line to win the Women’s Elite division of the 118th . —AFP Jeptoo fails doping test Top Kenyan marathon star tests positive for EPO

NAIROBI: The world’s top female marathon Athletics Federations (IAAF) had revealed a world’s top female marathon runner, having said. “ has been at the runner, Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo, has tested posi- positive ‘A’ sample test for the blood-boost- won the marathon twice and Boston forefront of the fight against doping in our tive for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO ing drug Erythropoietin (EPO) — which can three times, including in 2013 when she set sport and has a rule that no athlete can win during an out-of-competition doping control, massively boost endurance and, crucially, the course record of 2hr 18min 57sec - the the World Marathon Majors Series title, who Kenya’s athletics governing body told AFP recovery times during high-volume marathon eighth-best female marathon time of all time. has been in breach of IAAF anti-doping yesterday. The revelation is likely to be met training. Her last win, in Chicago in October, came rules,” it added. “At present there has been with shock and disbelief in Kenya, whose dis- “After we received the letter from the IAAF, weeks after the urine test was carried out - no decision in this case by the IAAF, including tance runners are a major source of national we summoned Rita Jeptoo for a meeting in and secured her overall win of the WMM in relation to sanctions, and as a result... it has pride. Jeptoo, a three-times winner of the Nairobi. She denied having taken any drugs,” series, which includes in Berlin, been decided to postpone the WMM Awards and a two-time champion Tuwei told AFP. “We cannot condemn her. Boston, Chicago, London, New York and Ceremony.” in Chicago, is also the biggest name in Kenyan She has a right to contest it” and request that Tokyo. Kenya has been under pressure from the athletics ever to have been tested positive. the ‘B’ sample also be tested, he added. She had been due to receive her WMM World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to take World Marathon Majors (WMM) organisers A separate statement from Athletics prize for the 2013-2014 series in New York action over doping after 17 of its athletes also said they were postponing the awarding Kenya, which in recent years has been tomorrow, but organisers said the ceremony tested positive between Jan 2012 and June of this year’s $500,000 prize to 33-year-old accused of failing to take sufficient action had been delayed after the RunBlogRun web- 2013. But a report from an independent task- Jeptoo. She had been due to attend the New against drug cheats, also said it was “disap- site broke the news of the positive test. force released this year did not uncover any York marathon on Sunday to collect the prize, pointed” by the finding. Jeptoo could not be “World Marathon Majors is disappointed to evidence of the use of the drugs among top the biggest payout in distance running. reached for comment, but was quoted in learn that Rita Jeptoo has apparently had an athletes, and insisted that “the few reported ’s vice president, Jackson Kenyan media as saying allegations that she A test that proved positive for a banned sub- cases were aided and abetted by professional Tuwei, said the International Association of cheated were “lies”. Jeptoo is currently the stance under IAAF rules,” a WMM statement doctors, managers and agents”. —AFP