ATHLETICS
Sportsbeat Correspondent 20 hrs ago

Kenyans in shock as Peres Jepchirchir suspended over doping

Peres Jepchirchir in past action. [Courtesy]

Athletics fans in Kenya were in shock on Friday after world champion Peres Jepchirchir was provisionally suspended for doping.

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Jepchirchir was suspended after an out-of-competition sample tested positive for banned blood booster EPO.

The news comes as a big blow to Kenya as Jepchirchir was not only a top athlete, but because the news comes just after Kenya won the bid to host the 2029 World Championships in Nairobi.

Athletics Kenya Youth Development Director and National Olympic Committee of Kenya vice president Barnaba Korir said he was in shock.

"It's a big disappointment coming soon after we were awarded the World Athletics Championship in 2029," Korir said according to AFP.

"We are in shock, especially in the calibre of Peres Jepchirchir after a stellar career.

"We don't know what is happening with our athletes."

Apart from winning the world title in Tokyo last year, Jepchirchir recently won the Sydney Marathon on October 25.

She is also a former world half marathon record holder and a four-time World Marathon majors winner.

She is also an Olympic champion having won gold at the 2020 Olympics in Japan. The Olympics were held in 2021 due to Covid pandemic in 2020.

A number of Kenyans on social media were also shocked by the news of Jepchirchir suspension, saying that Kenyans critics who were against the 2029 World Championships in Nairobi will now have a field day.