by Larry Eder
Rita Jeptoo, by PhotoRun.net
Jeptoo update
NAIROBI (KEN): Kenyan marathoner Rita Jeptoo has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for EPO. The Boston and Chicago Marathon champion met with Athletics Kenya (AK) on Tuesday and made the decision to request that her B sample be tested. After the meeting, AK vice president David Okeyo told the media, “AK is taking this matter very seriously and we would like to prove to the world that we are not lying on things that we know are bad. We are taking doping issues very seriously and should, and I repeat, should; the case of Rita is not supported by any facts as required by the rules of doping, AK will take very drastic action.” Inform capitalfm.co.ke and Reuters.
(note from Larry Eder: From the best that I can gather forensically, Rita Jeptoo was notified of her test only sometime last week, as is the procedure. Normally, it is up to three weeks before an athlete will hear that their A sample has tested positive. In most cases, the athlete is notified by the IAAF, but in some cases, a manager or coach may be the way the athlete is notified.
Athletics Kenya is under huge pressure to support a program of out of competition testing that is both thorough and independent. From my contacts, I was told by two well respected managers that drug testing in Kenya had been in the country for nearly a decade. But, some athletes are tested, and some are not.
Federations should not be in the business of drug testing. USA Track & Field worked with USADA under Craig Masback, which was one of the most important legacies of Mr. Masback’s tenure as CEO of USA Track & Field.
At this time, IAAF and World Marathon Majors have worked closely together to fill in the blank spaces in Kenya where drug testing, quite frankly, just is not complete. )
