Athletics: Kenyan marathon star Rita Jeptoo fails doping test
Last Updated: 31/10/14 8:56pm
Three-time Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo has failed an out-of-competition doping test.
"Athletics Kenya is disappointed to announce that we have received communication from IAAF in regards to the doping test results of above named athlete through the 'A' sample collected during out of competition on 25th September 2014," the body said in a statement.
"The result of the 'A' sample has indicated the presence of prohibited substances."
Jeptoo defended her Boston Marathon title in April, setting a new course record of two hours 18 minutes and 57 seconds in her third victory in the world's oldest city marathon.
The 33-year-old has also won marathons in Chicago, Stockholm and Milan and represented Kenya in the World Championships in 2007.
Jeptoo could not be reached on Friday, but after a meeting with senior athletics officials on Thursday, she said the accusation was false.
"Those are lies," she told reporters.
Athletics Kenya said its medical and anti-doping commission will meet next week with Jeptoo "to establish whether she would wish to exercise her right to order for testing of the 'B' sample."
At least 36 Kenyan athletes have failed dope tests in the past two years.
In the wake of the news the World Marathon Majors race series have been forced to postpone their awards ceremony.
Jeptoo leads the WMM series table with a maximum of 100 points and was in line to collect the women’s prize at the awards, including a winner’s cheque for 500,000 dollars in New York on Sunday.
“World Marathon Majors is disappointed to learn that Rita Jeptoo has apparently had an A test that proved positive for a banned substance under IAAF rules,” said a statement.
“At present there has been no decision in this case by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), including in relation to sanctions, and as a result WMM is unable to comment further until that determination has been made although in the circumstances it has been decided to postpone the WMM Awards Ceremony that was due to take place on the 2nd November 2014.”