Kenyan marathon champion to serve two–year ban

irobi, Jan 31: Kenya’s Boston Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo will serve a two–year ban and not four after her out–of–competition doping test turned positive to banned performance enhancing drug EPO, athletics officials said.

A statement from Athletics Kenya (AK) Friday confirmed that the 33–year–old Jeptoo will miss out the Rio Olympics as she is expected to return to action Oct 29, 2016, reports Xinhua.

“Athletics Kenya would like to confirm that it has (removed) Jeptoo for two years effective from Oct 30, 2014 to Oct 29, 2016 following the results of sample A and B for using the prohibited substance EPO,” AK said in a statement.

“That is the end of this case and we are now looking forward to working with the government’s Anti–Doping Agency of Kenya in partnering to fight doping in our sport,” AK president, Isaiah Kiplagat said.

However, Jeptoo’s agent and coach will not be sanctioned even after AK summoned them to give part of their story in the wake of news of her doping.

With the ban, Jeptoo stands to be stripped of her titles and earnings in the period under review as well as losing out on the $500,000 World Marathon Majors series jackpot she won after running to back–to–back victories at the Boston and Chicago marathons in 2013 and 2014. IANS