The Athletics Integrity Unit says a sample collected in Kenya before Jepchirchir’s Sydney Marathon victory returned an adverse finding for EPO.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Peres Jepchirchir after an out-of-competition sample returned an adverse finding for EPO. The 33-year-old Kenyan is the reigning world marathon champion and a former Olympic gold medallist.
In a statement on X, the AIU said it collected the sample in Kenya before her Sydney Marathon victory. Jepchirchir won that race on August 30, 2026, adding another major title to her career.
Peres Jepchirchir suspension follows sample finding
The AIU identified the substance as erythropoietin, commonly known as EPO. The performance-enhancing drug stimulates bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.
The announcement concerns a provisional suspension, rather than a final sanction. It follows a successful period for the Kapsabet-based runner, whose recent achievements include world championship gold.
Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir expressed disappointment and shock over the news. Korir, also a National Olympic Committee of Kenya vice president, highlighted Jepchirchir’s distinguished career.
He also questioned what was happening among Kenyan athletes as the country faces further high-profile doping cases.
Olympic gold and four major marathon wins
Jepchirchir has won four World Marathon Majors: New York in 2021, Boston in 2022, London in 2024 and Sydney in 2026.
Her New York victory followed Olympic marathon gold at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021. She became the first athlete to win both titles in the same year.
More recently, she defeated Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa to claim the world marathon title in Tokyo. Jepchirchir overtook Assefa in the closing stages after the pair entered Japan National Stadium.
Beyond the marathon, she claimed world half marathon titles in Cardiff in 2016 and Gdynia in 2020. She also won in Riga in 2023 and previously held the women-only half marathon world record.
Injuries interrupted racing plans
Despite those successes, injuries have repeatedly disrupted Jepchirchir’s preparations and competition schedule. A right hip injury forced her out of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene.
The following year, a lower-leg injury prompted her withdrawal from the New York City Marathon. She also missed the 2025 London Marathon after suffering a severe right ankle injury.
However, she returned from a two-month break to win world championship gold in September 2025.
