The Kenyan athlete, who won the marathon gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and last year’s Athletics World Championships, tested positive before winning the Sydney Marathon in August, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended Jepchirchir after an out-of-competition doping test conducted in Kenya, ahead of her recent Sydney Marathon victory, reportedly returned an adverse analytical finding for EPO, a banned performance-enhancing substance.
Jepchirchir, one of Kenya’s most decorated long-distance runners and a former half-marathon world record holder, has an impressive record of victories in major international marathons, including New York (2021), Boston (2022), London (2024), and Sydney (2026).
‘AK extends its full support’
In a statement, AK said: “While it is unfortunate to receive such news regarding a high-profile athlete, Athletics Kenya remains firm in its stance on promoting clean sport and ensuring a level playing field for all competitors.
“Athletics Kenya notes that the testing procedures and subsequent provisional suspension were conducted directly by the AIU, as the designated Testing Authority, in accordance with the established anti-doping regulations, international standards, and lawful case management protocols.
“AK extends its full support to the rigorous efforts of both global and local anti-doping bodies, specifically the AIU and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
“We applaud their commitment to maintaining structured, lawful, and transparent testing mechanisms that protect clean athletes and safeguard the integrity of athletics worldwide.
“Athletics Kenya reiterates its unwavering policy of zero tolerance to doping. We remain committed to educating athletes, strengthening testing frameworks, and ensuring that fairness and integrity remain at the heart of Kenyan athletics.”
She won the gold medal in the women’s marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Jepchirchir was the champion at the 2016 and 2020 World Half Marathon Championships.
She claimed victories at the 2021 New York City and 2022 Boston Marathons and finished third at the 2023 London Marathon
Jepchirchir further claimed a victory at the 2024 London Marathon, finishing in two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds and breaking the women’s-only world record (that is, the world record for the fastest time by a female marathon runner without using male pacemakers).
Her best time for the half marathon of 1:05:06, set on 10 February 2017 in the UAE, is a former half marathon world record. Until September 2026, she held the women's-only half marathon world record of 1:05:16, set at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, which was an improvement on her own previous record.
