NAIROBI, October 2- African bronze medallist and Beijing Worlds women 800m hopeful Agatha Jeruto as well as road runner, Josephine Jepkoech, have been handed four and two year doping bans by Athletics Kenya in the latest positive busts in the country.
The federation confirmed in a statement on Friday they had sanctioned the runners after the news leaked out in a local daily that Jeruto, who was a hopeful for the Beijing World Championships and Jepkoech had been banned for doping violations.
“Athletics Kenya has also sanctioned Agatha Jeruto Kimaswai for failing a doping test during out of competition mission on 14th April 2015 in Eldoret.
“The samples provided by the athlete revealed the presence of the prohibited substance Norandrosterone. In reference to IAAF Rule 40.2 (a) ii a four (4) year period of ineligibility has been imposed on the athlete effective 20th May 2015 and will end on 19th May 2019,” the federation’s statement said.
Jeruto was in the books of the Rosa Associati stable where star marathoner, Rita Jeptoo, who was banned in January for EPO violations also belonged before she was expelled from the management.
The budding two-lap talent was a training partner to 2013 women 800m World champion, Eunice Sum and 2007 winner, Janeth Jepkosgei in Eldoret.
Rosa Associati are yet to respond to Capital Sport inquiry into the latest case by press time having distanced themselves from Jeptoo, when the three-time Boston and twice Chicago women’s marathon champion became the highest profile doping bust in Kenyan history.
Jeruto, 21, rose to attention when she qualified for the 2011 World Youth Championships but ended her run in the semis, a feat she repeated at the World Junior Championships a year later.
She bagged her first medal during the 2013 Africa Junior Championships before winning the same at last year’s Africa Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.
Jeruto was widely expected to join training partners Sum, who won bronze at her defence in Beijing and Jepkosgei in the team to China but did not take part in the August 1 Kenya Trials as speculation mounted.
-IAC deny-
Meanwhile, the International Athletics Consultancy (IAC) that was led by the late respected manager, Zane Branson, slammed newspaper reports that linked Jepkoech who failed a dope test in Angola to their stable.
“Athletics Kenya has sanctioned Josephine Jepkoech Jepkorir for failing a doping test conducted on 31st December 2014 during the Corrida de Sao Silvestre, in Luanda Angola which revealed the presence of prohibited substance Norandrosterone.
“In reference to IAAF Rule 40.2 and owing to the period when the infarction was registered a two (2) year sanction has been imposed on the athlete effective from 15th March 2015 and will end on 14th March 2017. Additionally and in reference to IAAF Rule 40.1 the results for the Corrida de Sao Silvestre, in Luanda Angola and ‘Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathona’, on 13.02.15 have been cancelled.
“The athlete will therefore forfeit all titles, awards, medals, points, prize and appearance money from these races,” the federation said in the announcement of the sanctions for Jepkoech.
IAC Special Projects manager, Davor Savija, said partly in a statement, “IAC states that Jospehine Jepkoech Korir was not managed by the late Zane Branson/IAC and in the strongest possible terms we object incorrect and irresponsible reporting.”