Chicago Marathon Champ Jeptoo's ‘B' Sample Tests Positive

Kenya's athletics federation says marathon runner Rita Jeptoo's "B'' sample has tested positive, confirming an earlier test that found traces of a banned performance enhancer.

Athletics Kenya said Friday that tests of the "B'' sample were conducted between Wednesday and Friday at the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Lausanne. The federation said in a statement that it will hold a hearing of Jeptoo's case early January.

Jeptoo is a three-time winner of the Boston Marathon and two-time winner in Chicago. She is one of the highest profile Kenyan athletes to fail a doping test.

Carey Pinkowski, the executive race director for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, said they are "disappointed by this news and the impact it has not only on our race, but also on the sport of marathon running."

"We must respect the process and will await the IAAF's formal proceedings and final ruling before addressing the athlete's standing with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon," Pinkowski said in a statement. "As a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has been and continues to be an advocate for strict anti-doping measures and wider out of competition testing.”

David Okeyo and Jackson Tuwei, who are vice presidents of Athletics Kenya, had said in November that Jeptoo's "A'' sample taken in an out-of-competition test in Kenya on Sept. 25 showed traces of the blood-booster EPO.

[NATL] Top Sports Photos: Washington Nationals Win World Series, and More

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us