Marathon queen Rita Jeptoo fails drug test

-By Scott Leitch

The World Marathon Majors announced this morning they are postponing the prize ceremony, scheduled for after the New York City Marathon on Sunday, after learning Rita Jeptoo has failed a doping test.

“World Marathon Majors is disappointed to learn that Rita Jeptoo has apparently had an A test that proved positive for a banned substance under IAAF rules,” reads a statement on the website.

Jeptoo had locked up her winnings of the $500,000 prize after winning the past four marathons she entered — the previous two Boston and Chicago Marathons. She is one of the sport’s most dominant stars of the current era.

Jeptoo was not scheduled to race the marathon on Sunday, having won in Chicago weeks ago to seal up her top spot, had she not been found in violation of doping regulations.

At this point, the substance she has tested positive for remains unknown and she will also have a second “B” sample tested.

“At present there has been no decision in this case by the IAAF, including in relation to sanctions, and as a result WMM is unable to comment further until that determination has been made although in the circumstances it has been decided to postpone the WMM Awards Ceremony that was due to take place on Nov. 2, 2014,” continues the statement.

Prominent road running and track and field writer Larry Eders, writing for RunBlogRun, claims to have spoken to a source in Kenya who claims the out of competition test happened at the end of September, after Jeptoo’s most recent Chicago Marathon win, in Kenya. It was allegedly an urine sample.