by Larry EderIt is seven hours into my flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, which is a ten hour and thirty minute flight. I am considering the happenings of the past day (Wednesday, October 26, 2016).
Rita Jeptoo, photo by PhotoRun.net
Early on the morning of the October 26, CAS announced that Rita Jeptoo, a runner who had tested positive after the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon for banned substances, had been given an additional two years of supsension.
For me, that was a step in the right direction.
On Wednesday morning, October 26, I went out on my walk, and called the Boston Marathon offices to see if they had a statement. I was told the BAA statement would shortly appear on the web. The BAA statement noted solidarity with CAS and the support of preventing doping in their race.
I was speaking with several keen observers of the sport and someone noted, “well, some good news finally today.” That Rita Jeptoo gets another two years is a good thing for the sport. Hopefully, it will deter some people.
Rita Jeptoo tested positive just after her win at the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. She had recieved money from Boston, after her 2014 victory, with both appearance money and award money.
Besides the additional ban, Rita Jetoo will not be able to race in Abbott World Marathon Majors until she pays all appearance and award monies during the period affected by her doping positive. RunBlogRun estimates that this will be north of $200,000 from Boston. Chicago held off payments to Rita Jeptoo, and fortunately, Abbott World Wide Majors did not pay her the $500,000 for winning the series.
We salute CAS, IAAF and the Abbott World Marathon majors for staying so strong. Doping not only provides athletes assistance in their competition, it is, and let me make this clear, stealing. Dopers are stealing money from clean athletes, they are stealing publicity from clean athletes, they are stealing from the fans and sponsors, but taking attention and money away from athletes who have toiled long and hard, without doping, to seek their athletic dreams.
Watch for more on this topic in upcoming weeks.
