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“The IAAF can confirm that an anti-doping rule violation case
concerning Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) has commenced this week, the
International Association of Athletics Federations said in a
statement.
"The athlete tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin) following
a no-notice test conducted by the IAAF in Kenya.
"This was part of an enhanced IAAF out-of-competition testing
program dedicated to elite marathon runners which is supported
by the Abbott World Marathon Majors group."
If Sumgong's B sample is confirmed as positive and she is
subsequently banned it will be a massive blow for African
distance powerhouse Kenya, where her Rio victory was greeted
with near-delirium after such a long and inexplicable barren
spell over the classic distance at the Olympics.
Kenya took silver in the women's marathon at the three previous
Games and a bronze in 2000 having failed to medal before that
after the race was introduced to the Games in 1984.
Sumgong, 32, had a stellar 2016, winning the London Marathon in
April then claiming the elusive Olympic gold in Rio despite
being disturbed by a protester on the course.
Sumgong's former compatriot Eunice Jepkirui, who switched
allegiance to Bahrain in 2013, took silver.
Eliud Kipchoge won the men's race to complete a Kenyan double.
Thursday's news comes in the wake of a four-year ban handed to
Kenya's multi-marathon champion Rita Jeptoo, Sumgong's former
training partner, after she tested positive for EPO in 2014.
Kenya's middle and long distance success has been marred by
doping cases involving elite athletes. Officials estimate the
number of positive tests at about 50 in the past four years.
The latest cases will be seen by observers as evidence of how
the IAAF is making progress in the region after previous
official criticism of anti-doping regimes in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Both countries have in the past been deemed non-compliant with
the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) code.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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