LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Former Chicago and Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo has had her doping ban doubled to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In a ruling published Wednesday, the CAS judging panel stripped Jeptoo of her 2014 win in Boston, plus results, prize and appearance money dating back to April 17, 2014. The Kenyan runner previously lost her 2014 Chicago victory.
Jeptoo had been due to earn a $500,000 bonus for leading the World Marathon Majors series standings for the combined 2013 and 2014 seasons. She won back-to-back Boston and Chicago titles in 2013.
Jeptoo tested positive for EPO in a September 2014 sample given during training for the Chicago race. CAS said it upheld the IAAF’s appeal to increase Jeptoo’s original two-year ban, which was imposed by Athletics Kenya and was to expire this week. Athletes can be banned for four years over a first offense if there are “aggravating circumstances.”