Rita Jeptoo grilled by Athletics Kenya as she demands further test

Chicago Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo meets Athletic Kenya offices where she was summoned to appear the doping test allegations.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Three-time Boston Marathon and two-time Chicago marathon winner Rita Jeptoo spent the better part of yesterday at Athletics Kenya (AK) headquarters where she was summoned to begin her defence following allegations of doping.

The results of the ‘A’ sample for the athlete indicated the presence of prohibited substance EPO.

Sources within the meeting confided that she requested for a 'B' sample to be tested.

The athlete met AK officials that included AK President Isaiah Kiplagat, Chief Executive Isaac Mwangi, Vice Presidents David Okeyo and Jack Tuweii and the medical commission team.

The meeting started at 9 and ended at around 4.30pm. She declined to comment on the allegations. “Nothing,” is all she said. Okeyo said the matter is sensitive and they were only taking her through the procedure for her case.

Jeptoo arrived in the country yesterday morning from New York where she was to attend the World Marathon Majors (WMM) awards event, which was called off by the organisers indefinitely following the doping claims.

She was to give her side of the story on the allegations and ask that her sample 'B' be taken for further tests.

Elsewhere, renegade Athletics Kenya (AK) branch officials have denounced the inability by AK to act on the rampant doping being witnessed in the country.

“We were shocked, like many other Kenyans, that top athletes who know the impact of doping, like Rita Jeptoo, had her sample return positive. It is embarrassing and yet AK top officials were called to appear before the Ministerial Anti-Doping Task Force and they declined. It means there is something they know, which they are refusing to share with others.

“In fact, anti-doping will be on the agenda to be discussed during the SGM and maybe Kiplagat (AK boss Isaiah) will want to open up to us on what he knows,” said Koskei. The branch officials have called for an SGM next week, but Kiplagat has declined to attend.