The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed via its website that the governing body for athletics, the IAAF, has requested that Kenya’s Boston and Chicago marathon winner Rita Jeptoo’s ban of two-years be doubled.
Jeptoo failed an out-of-competition test in September 2014 for EPO, a claim that she denies and has appealed to CAS for her suspension to be lifted.
EPO artificially increases the body’s red blood cell count so that athletes are able to deliver more oxygen to their muscles, allowing them to run harder and faster for longer.
CAS said the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had requested Jeptoo’s “period of ineligibility be increased to four years, due to aggravating circumstances which it argues warrant an extended period of ineligibility”.
Jeptoo, 34, has asked the CAS to consider lifting the ban imposed by Athletics Kenya so that she can “resume training and […] participate in IAAF competitions during the CAS proceedings”. Her current ban is due to run until 29 October 2016.
Jeptoo’s positive test came just days after Athletics Kenya announced that Wilson Kipsang has missed a drugs test and Viola Chelangat Kimetto as well as Joyce Jemutai Kiplimo were both delivered two year bans.
