Sydney Marathon champion Jepchirchir provisionally banned over EPO finding

Athletics Integrity Unit says out-of-competition sample collected in Kenya tested positive for blood booster erythropoietin

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources5 outlets

Kenya's world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended after an out-of-competition sample collected in Kenya returned an adverse analytical finding for the blood booster EPO, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Friday.

The AIU said the sample, taken before her Sydney Marathon victory, tested positive for erythropoietin, a substance that boosts the production of red blood cells.

Her agent, Gianni Demadonna, said in an emailed statement: "I can only say that I feel terrible about what happened and I think it's only right that an athlete who uses the performance enhancing drugs should be disqualified."

Jepchirchir, 33, is one of the most decorated women in the sport, having won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and claimed major marathon victories in New York (2021), Boston (2022), London (2024) and Sydney (2026). She previously held the half marathon world record.

She dominated the women's race in Sydney in August, finishing in 2:18:31, more than three minutes ahead of second-placed compatriot Irine Cheptai. The Sydney Marathon, which was added to the list of world majors beginning in 2025, said it was "extremely disappointed" by the news.

"Our commitment to clean sport is unwavering. Every athlete who lines up in Sydney deserves to race on a level playing field," the event said in a statement.

Jepchirchir is the latest in a long string of Kenyan athletes to fall foul of doping rules. More than 140 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned since the AIU was established in 2017.

Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist and broadcaster Kara Goucher, a whistleblower in the Nike Oregon Project case, said: "So much of what I see when I'm on a broadcast call I do not believe. I'm not surprised by this. I am, however, sad for all the athletes who finished behind her and were screwed out of a podium."

Last year, Kenya's women's marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich was banned for three years after admitting anti-doping rule violations involving the prohibited diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), though her world record of 2:09:56 remained on the books because it was set before her positive test.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The suspension taints the Sydney Marathon, which joined the World Marathon Majors list in 2025, and one of the year's biggest women's marathon results.
It deepens the doping crisis in Kenyan distance running, with more than 140 Kenyan athletes sanctioned since the AIU was established in 2017.
If the case is upheld, her Sydney victory could be disqualified and podium places reassigned, affecting runners such as second-placed Irine Cheptai.

Background

Erythropoietin, or EPO, is a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production and has long been one of the most notorious doping agents in endurance sport. Kenya has faced repeated scrutiny over doping among its elite distance runners, and the AIU's figures show a sustained pattern of sanctions since the body was set up in 2017. Jepchirchir's Sydney win came in the race's second year as a World Marathon Major.

Key Perspectives

Gianni Demadonna (Jepchirchir's agent): says he feels terrible about what happened and that it is only right that an athlete who uses performance enhancing drugs should be disqualified. Kara Goucher (Olympic silver medallist and broadcaster): says she is not surprised by the finding and is sad for the athletes who finished behind Jepchirchir and "were screwed out of a podium". Sydney Marathon: says it is "extremely disappointed" and its commitment to clean sport is unwavering, with every athlete deserving to race on a level playing field.

What to Watch

The AIU's case and whether the provisional suspension becomes a final ban.
Whether Jepchirchir's Sydney Marathon result is stripped and the podium reassigned.
Whether further Kenyan athletes are sanctioned, given the AIU's record of more than 140 cases since 2017.

Sources

Kenya's Jepchirchir wins Sydney Marathon · WAtoday
Kenya's Jepchirchir wins Sydney Marathon · The Age
Kenya's Jepchirchir wins Sydney Marathon · Brisbane Times
Kenya's Jepchirchir wins Sydney Marathon · The Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney marathon champion Jepchirchir provisionally banned over EPO finding · ABC News

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedJepchirchir, described as Sydney Marathon champion, was provisionally banned over an EPO finding.Just In: “Sydney marathon champion Jepchirchir provisionally banned over EPO finding.”
SupportedThe AIU said an out-of-competition sample collected in Kenya returned an adverse analytical finding for EPO.Just In: “The AIU added that the out-of-competition sample collected in Kenya returned an adverse analytical finding for EPO (erythropoietin)”
SupportedThe sample was taken before Jepchirchir’s Sydney Marathon victory.Just In: “in a sample taken before her Sydney Marathon victory”
SupportedJepchirchir’s agent, Gianni Demadonna, said he felt terrible and that an athlete who uses performance-enhancing drugs should be disqualified.Just In: “"I can only ‌say that I feel terrible about what happened and I think it's only right that an athlete who uses the performance enhancing drugs should be disqualified," her agent Gianni Demadonna said in an ‌emailed statement.”
SupportedJepchirchir is 33 and won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021.Just In: “The 33-year-old is one of the most decorated women in the sport, having ⁠won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021”
SupportedJepchirchir won major marathons in New York in 2021, Boston in 2022, London in 2024 and Sydney in 2026, and previously held the half marathon world record.Just In: “having claimed ‌major marathon victories in New York (2021), Boston (2022), London (2024) and Sydney (2026). She ‌previously held the half marathon world record.”
SupportedJepchirchir won the Sydney women’s race in 2:18:31, more than three minutes ahead of Irine Cheptai.Just In: “finish in 2:18:31, more than 3 minutes ahead of second-placed compatriot Irine Cheptai.”
SupportedThe Sydney Marathon said it was “extremely disappointed” and affirmed its commitment to clean sport and a level playing field.Just In: “said it was "extremely disappointed" by the news. "Our commitment to clean sport is unwavering. Every athlete who lines up in Sydney deserves to race on a level playing field," it said in a statement.”
SupportedMore than 140 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned since the AIU was established in 2017.Just In: “More than 140 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned since the AIU was established in 2017.”
SupportedKara Goucher said she was not surprised and was sad for athletes who finished behind Jepchirchir and were “screwed out of a podium.”Just In: “"I'm not surprised by this," said Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist and broadcaster Kara Goucher, who was a whistleblower ⁠in the Nike Oregon Project case. "I am, however, ‌sad for all the athletes ‌who finished behind her and were screwed out of a podium."”
SupportedRuth Chepngetich was banned for three years after admitting anti-doping rule violations involving HCTZ, while her 2:09:56 world record remained on the books because it predated her positive test.Just In: “Last year, Kenya's ⁠women's marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich was banned for three years after admitting anti-doping rule violations involving hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a ‌prohibited diuretic, though ‌her world record of 2:09:56 remained on the books because it was set before her positive test.”