Kenyan Marathon Star Peres Jepchirchir Suspended Over Doping Allegations.

By Owen Chege

Kenyan marathon star Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended after reportedly testing positive for the banned substance EPO, raising concerns over her athletics career.

The 33-year-old Olympic gold medallist and world marathon champion was suspended following a doping test conducted in Kenya before her victory at the 2026 Sydney Marathon.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced the suspension on Friday, October 23, 2026, as investigations into the matter continued.

According to the report, Jepchirchir’s sample tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a banned substance that can improve endurance by increasing the body’s ability to carry oxygen.

Jepchirchir is one of Kenya’s most successful long-distance runners, having won Olympic marathon gold at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.

Her latest doping case comes after her victory at the 2026 Sydney Marathon, where she added another achievement to her successful running career.

The provisional suspension means Jepchirchir is temporarily barred from competing while the case is being handled. However, the suspension does not mean a final decision has been made on whether she violated anti-doping rules.

The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the Kenyan athlete faces further punishment or is cleared to return to competitive athletics.