In a week rife with doping news, that Boston and Chicago Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo鈥檚 鈥淏鈥 sample has returned positive. Athletics Kenya had that the banned substance was the glycoprotein hormone erythropoietin (EPO).
Jeptoo, who 聽in April with her third Boston Marathon win, also in the two-year contesting period of 2013 to 2014. But prior to the $500,000 prize being awarded, RunBlogRun.com that the Kenyan athlete鈥檚 鈥淎鈥 sample had tested positive for a banned substance. She requested her 鈥淏鈥 sample tested on November 5, .
In a press conference during the New York City Marathon in November, Jeptoo鈥檚 agent, Federico Rosa, and coach Claudio Berardelli both claimed they were unaware of the offense, . 鈥淚 see what is going on in Kenya, how many athletes have been caught,鈥 Rosa said, according to Runner鈥檚 World. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think agents are behind it. I think it鈥檚 more on their own.鈥
Seventeen Kenyan runners have tested positive for banned substances in 2013 and 2014, . That鈥檚 the largest number of positives in the country鈥檚 history and raises questions about the previously unquestioned dominance of East African distance runners.