Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir provisionally suspended after EPO positive, Sydney title under cloud

Kenyan marathon runner Peres Jepchirchir, the Olympic and world championships gold medallist, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after an out-of-competition sample tested positive for EPO, or erythropoietin. The sample was provided in Kenya before she won the Sydney Marathon on 30 August 2026, clocking two hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds. The provisional suspension is an interim measure and does not amount to a final finding of guilt. It means the 33-year-old cannot compete in events under the authority of the sport's anti-doping framework until the case is resolved. EPO is a natural hormone produced in the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the muscles. When injected, it can raise red blood cell counts and is detectable in urine or blood only for a limited window, making sample timing critical. Jepchirchir won the women's marathon at the Tokyo 2026 Olympics and returned to the Japanese capital to win the World Championships marathon in September 2026. She broke the women's half-marathon world record in 2026 and again three times in 2026, and has won the New York Marathon (2026), Boston Marathon (2026) and London Marathon (2026). In Sydney, which became the seventh world major in 2026, she beat compatriot Irene Chepet Cheptai by more than three minutes. That victory, along with any prize money, ranking points and the title itself, could be affected if a violation is established. The next step will be testing of the B sample, after which the athlete can present a defence before a disciplinary panel. Sanctions can run to several years and may include disqualification of results. The case is likely to remain a central talking point in the sport for months.