Top Kenyan female marathon runner Rita Jeptoo has been handed a two-year ban after being caught doping with the banned blood-boosting hormone EPO, officials said Friday.
The suspension, announced by the local governing body Athletics Kenya, was the minimum mandatory punishment she was facing under international anti-doping regulations in place when she was caught in an out-of competition test last year.
Jeptoo, winner of the last two consecutive Boston and Chicago marathons, is the biggest name in Kenyan athletics to have been caught cheating and the scandal has cast a shadow over the achievements of the east African distance running powerhouse.
"Rita Jeptoo has been banned for two years, effective from 30th October 2014 to 29th October 2016, following the results of the A and B samples which showed she had used the prohibited substance EPO," Athletics Kenya's chief executive Isaac Mwangi told AFP.
Jeptoo, 33, has already been denied the $500,000 prize for winning the last World Marathon Majors series, although it remains unclear if she will have to pay back prize money that has already been paid out.
Athletes caught doping after January 1st this year now face a mandatory four-year ban.
"Athletics Kenya AK at two workshops in 2013 in Eldoret to educate the top athletes on the issue of drugs. Rita's ignorance has been her downfall," said Noah Ngeny, AK's athletes commission chair.
There were however complaints that the suspension was far too short.
"Two years is too lenient. She will come back very strong," complained Kenyan running legend and multiple 3000m steeplechase medalist Moses Kiptanui.
"This will not deter other athletes from taking drugs. Why are they being lenient? It will serve as an encouragement," he told AFP. "The rotten few are hurting Kenyan athletics. People think everybody who was successful has doped."
Another top Kenyan runner, who asked not to be named, said the decision was "a disgrace".
"Kenya has been in the spotlight and this was an opportunity to show we are serious and to set a very clear example. But they gave her the minimum punishment, and even backdated it. This is a very poor decision and a real kick in the teeth for all of us who are competing clean," he said.
Kenya's sports bosses have been accused of inaction on the doping issue, which has cast a shadow over the record-breaking and medal-winning achievements of its fabled distance runners.
They have blamed the current crisis on dishonest foreign agents and managers who are "corrupting" Kenyan runners.
Source: AFP