Jeptoo fallout: AK call disgraced runner’s coaches for hearing
Multiple marathons champion Rita Jeptoo leaves Riadha House on November 4, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Jeptoo, 33, had made history as the first person to win four consecutive World Marathon Majors Series when she defended her Boston and Chicago Marathon titles.
- Her victories that counted for 100 points to put her in line for the $1m (about Sh90m) World Marathon Majors Series jackpot is now an exercise in futility as she awaits sentencing.
- Kisorio completed his two-year ban in July last. Both athletes are under Federico and Berardelli’s stable but Kisorio was sidelined after finishing his ban.
Athletics Kenya has summoned Rita Jeptoo’s coaches Claudio Berardelli and Noah Busienei when the athlete comes for her final hearing on her dope case on January 15.
The AK Medical and Anti-doping Commission that will conduct the hearing at Riadha House starting 10am has also told Jeptoo’s manager Federico Rosa to attend.
“Athletics Kenya has also invited a government representative through the Ministry of Sports Culture and the Arts to attend the hearing,” said a statement from AK Media and Communications.
But it’s left to be known whether disgraced Jeptoo will receive a maximum ban of two years or the four years ban that came into effect on January 1.
Jeptoo’s fate was sealed on December 19 after her “B” Sample urine test corroborated her “A” Sample that tested positive for prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO).
Jeptoo, 33, had made history as the first person to win four consecutive World Marathon Majors Series when she defended her Boston and Chicago Marathon titles.
HANG DRY
Her victories that counted for 100 points to put her in line for the $1m (about Sh90m) World Marathon Majors Series jackpot is now an exercise in futility as she awaits sentencing.
Jeptoo’s urine sample was collected out of competition in Eldoret on September 24 last year with the test results coming out just days before the New York Marathon race that was due for November 2.
She has been left to hang dry after Rosa and Berardelli disassociated themselves from the athlete’s doping saga, with athletes in their camp too telling Jeptoo to carry her own cross.
Jeptoo is the first top athlete to fail dope test since Matthew Kisorio two years. Kisorio completed his two-year ban in July last. Both athletes are under Federico and Berardelli’s stable but Kisorio was sidelined after finishing his ban.
Besides Jeptoo and Kisorio, former World 400m champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana is another high-profile athlete from Federico’s stable to test positive for a banned substance.
