Marathon world champion Jepchirchir suspended over positive EPO test
Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 13:44 · Archive
Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning women's marathon world champion, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after an out-of-competition sample tested positive for EPO. The 33-year-old provided the sample in Kenya before winning the Sydney Marathon on 30 August 2026, where she clocked two hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds, winning by more than three minutes.
EPO, or erythropoietin, is a natural substance produced in the kidneys that stimulates the creation of new red blood cells. When injected, it increases oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood but is only detectable in urine or blood for a short window of time.
Jepchirchir is a four-time World Marathon Major winner and won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 before returning to win the World Championships in September 2025. Her other major victories include the New York Marathon in 2021, the Boston Marathon in 2022 and the London Marathon in 2024. Since the positive test was taken before her Sydney victory, that result is at risk of being struck from her record.
How it is being reported
- World and Olympic marathon champion Jepchirchir suspended after positive doping testAIU investigates after sample tested positive for EPO 33-year-old won Olympic marathon in 2021 In a fresh hammer blow for Kenyan athletics, world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Friday. The highly-decorated 33-year-old Kenyan, who won Olympic gold in the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, was suspended after an out-of-competition sample tested positive for banned blood booster EPO. Continue reading...The Guardian · 23 Oct, 13:31
- World champion Jepchirchir fails drugs testReigning world women's marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir is provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after a sample tests positive for EPO.BBC News · 23 Oct, 13:01
- Marathon world champion Peres Jepchirchir suspended after positive EPO testThe Kenyan returned an adverse analytical finding for EPOIndependent Sport · 23 Oct, 12:14
In this story: Peres Jepchirchir · Athletics Integrity Unit · Kenya · Sydney · Tokyo
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