Reigning world marathon champion and former Olympic gold medallist Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following an adverse analytical finding for a prohibited performance-enhancing substance.
The AIU announced the suspension on Friday, October 23, 2026, after an out-of-competition sample collected in Kenya returned a finding for erythropoietin (EPO), a substance banned in athletics.
The sample was collected before Jepchirchir's victory at the Sydney Marathon in August, where she returned to top-level competition after missing the London Marathon earlier this year due to a stress fracture.
EPO is a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells, increasing the amount of oxygen carried in the blood. Its use is prohibited in sport because it can enhance endurance and give athletes an unfair competitive advantage.
The provisional suspension means Jepchirchir is temporarily barred from competing as the case proceeds under athletics anti-doping rules. However, the suspension is not a final determination of guilt, and the case remains subject to the applicable disciplinary process.
The 33-year-old is one of Kenya's most accomplished long-distance runners, having won Olympic marathon gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games and claimed the women's world marathon title in Tokyo in September 2025.
She has also won four World Marathon Majors titles and previously held the women's half-marathon world record, establishing herself among the leading figures in international distance running.
Her suspension comes at a time when Kenyan athletics continues to face scrutiny over anti-doping violations, with several athletes having faced suspensions over prohibited substances.
The case also places renewed attention on Jepchirchir's recent performances, including her Sydney Marathon victory, which came after the sample was collected.
Further details about the proceedings, including any response from Jepchirchir, had not been provided at the time of publication.
The outcome of the case will determine any further sanctions and the status of results affected under anti-doping rules.
