World marathon champion Jepchirchir provisionally suspended over EPO finding

World marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended from competition after an out-of-competition sample taken in Kenya returned an adverse analytical finding for EPO, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on 23 October. The sample was collected before she won the Sydney Marathon on 30 August 2026.

The 33-year-old Kenyan also won Olympic marathon gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Her Sydney Marathon victory came in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds. EPO is a prohibited substance that stimulates red blood cell production and can improve endurance.

Sydney Marathon organisers confirmed the suspension and said Jepchirchir was entitled to due process. The measure prevents her from competing while the case proceeds; it is not a final ruling that she broke anti-doping rules or, by itself, a decision to overturn her Sydney win.

Her agent, Gianni Demadonna, told Reuters he felt terrible about what had happened and said athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs should be disqualified. He did not say Jepchirchir had admitted an offence. The organisers said World Marathon Majors rules impose a lifetime ban from all eight Majors on an athlete banned for at least three months for a doping offence. Whether that rule becomes relevant to Jepchirchir depends on the outcome of her case.