World Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir Provisionally Suspended After Positive EPO Test

Distance running has been rocked by another doping case. Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning world champion in the women's marathon, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after a sample tested positive for EPO.

What Happened

The AIU, which handles anti-doping cases for World Athletics, announced the suspension after one of Jepchirchir's samples returned a positive result for erythropoietin (EPO), one of the best-known performance-enhancing drugs in endurance sports.

Who Is Peres Jepchirchir?

Peres Jepchirchir is one of the most decorated marathon runners of her generation. The Kenyan star won Olympic gold in the marathon at the Tokyo Games and is the reigning world champion. Her suspension is one of the biggest doping stories in the sport in years.

What Is EPO?

EPO is a hormone that tells the body to make more red blood cells. More red blood cells mean more oxygen reaches the muscles, which can dramatically improve endurance. That is why it is banned at all times, in and out of competition, and why it has been at the center of some of the most famous doping scandals in cycling and running.

What a Provisional Suspension Means

A provisional suspension is not a final verdict:

1. The athlete cannot compete while the case is open.
2. The athlete can respond to the charge and, in many cases, request testing of a backup sample.
3. A final decision and any ban come later, after the case is heard.

A Troubling Pattern

Jepchirchir's case is not the only one in the news. Kenya's distance running program has faced intense scrutiny over doping in recent years, and anti-doping authorities have stepped up testing.

What's Next

Jepchirchir now faces a disciplinary process that will determine whether she receives a ban. We will update this story as the case develops.

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