by Alfonz Juck
Jemima Sumgong, photo by PhotoRun.net
The announcement came on April 7, from Reuters. They had an exclusive that Jemima Sumgong had tested positive for EPO in an out of competition testing. The announcement hit the sports world hard. Many woke up on April 8, with a BBC radio and TV announcement. The London Marathon pulled Sumgong from their field, Abbott World Marathon Majors made an announcement and Sumgong’s management team issued their statement. We have a synopsis of each event below from yesterday’s horrific day.
SUMGONG CASE
KAPSABET (KEN): Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong has failed an out-of-competition drug test in February for EPO, informs Reuters. “The IAAF can confirm that an anti-doping rule violation case concerning Jemima Sumgong has commenced this week. The athlete tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin) following a no-notice test conducted by the IAAF in Kenya,” said the IAAF in a statement. The out-of-competition drug test was conducted in February. The result of her B-sample has not yet been confirmed. Sumgong is a former training partner of Rita Jeptoo who also tested positive for EPO in 2014.
LONDON (GBR): Jemima Sumgong has been scratched from the London Marathon field where she was due to defend her title on 23 April, informs organisers. Pending the outcome of her B-sample and investigation, race chief executive Nick Bitel has said the event could recapture prize money won by Sumgong from last year’s race. “In addition, London Marathon Events will take legal proceedings against athletes who have been disqualified from its events for failed tests if they do not repay money that they have received from the event,” he said in a press release. As the positive test comes from February 2017 the only potential race affected could be her RAK Half Marathon where she finished 4th on February 10. All her other races before February 2017 remain untouched.
CHICAGO (USA): General manager of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Tim Hadzima has said a World Marathon Majors champion will not be immediately named if Sumgong remains top of the leaderboard after the completion of the current series. “Sumgong currently leads the standings for AbbottWMM Series X, which concludes at the April 17 Boston Marathon. Under AbbottWMM rules, any athlete who has been found guilty of any anti-doping rules enforced by the IAAF, WADA, National Federations or any of the individual AbbottWMM races is not eligible to win a AbbottWMM Series title. Given our policies, until the conclusion of Jemima Sumgong’s case and any potential appeal process, we will not name a Series X women’s champion,” he said in a statement.
KAPSABET (KEN): Jemima Sumgong’s manager Federico Rosa has said he is “shocked” by the news of her positive and blames it on “doctors and pharmacists in Kenya,” informs L’Equipe. “I’m shocked. If this is confirmed by the analysis of the B sample, it is dramatic for athletics and for Kenyan sport. I spoke a few minutes on the phone with Jemima, she is very shaken by what happens and we must wait for information from the IAAF. I have nothing to do with Jemima’s positive control. I think the problem is local, it comes from doctors and pharmacists in Kenya,” he said.
