Rio Olympics Gold Medallist Jemima Sumgong Fails Drug Test
Jemima Sumgong became the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic marathon gold at Rio.
Jemima Sumgong, who became the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold in the Rio marathon event, has tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in an out-of-competition test carried out by the IAAF, the sport's governing body said on Thursday.
“The IAAF can confirm that an anti-doping rule violation case concerning Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) has commenced this week”, the International Association of Athletics Federations said in a statement.
“The athlete tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin) following a no-notice test conducted by the IAAF in Kenya. This was part of an enhanced IAAF out-of-competition testing programme dedicated to elite marathon runners which is supported by the Abbott World Marathon Majors group.”
Sumgong’s Rio victory was greeted with near-delirium in Kenya after such a long and inexplicable barren spell over the classic distance at the Olympics.
Kenya took silver in the women's marathon at the three previous Games and a bronze in 2000, having failed to win a medal before that after the race was introduced to the Games in 1984.
Thursday's news comes in the wake of a four-year ban handed to Kenya's multi-marathon champion Rita Jeptoo, Sumgong's former training partner, after she tested positive for EPO in 2014.
Kenya's middle and long distance success has been marred by doping cases involving elite athletes. Officials estimate the number of positive tests at about 50 in the past four years.
(This article has been edited for length.)
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