WHY I WANT MY TITLES: After suspension of Jeptoo and Shobukhova, Edna Kiplagat demands prizes

KIPLAGAT: LONDON, April 14, 2014 (Xinhua) -- Edna Kiplagat of Kenya poses with her trophy during the champions photocall of 2014 London Marathon near Tower Bridge in London, Britain on April 14, 2014. Edna Kiplagat claimed the title of Elite Women with 2:20:21 . (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

When the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) releases its report tomorrow, one athlete will be eagerly awaiting the dossier.

And Edna Kiplagat, the two-time world marathon champion, has every reason to be concerned.

Anxiety and panic keep sweeping across athletics circles as Wada unleashes its second report in what is likely to throw Kenya’s hope of competing at the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, into a spin.

But it’s make or break for Edna, who is poised to benefit from a river of fortune from past two World Marathon Majors (WMM) series.

She was second behind Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova in the 2012/2013 WMM series and was also beaten to the 2013/2014 WMM series by Rita Jeptoo.

Shobukhova and Jeptoo have since been suspended for testing positive to banned substances.

“My talent is just being wasted. I don’t know why and right now, I have no motivation. I have tried it several times. Shobukhova and Jeptoo have been suspended, but I have not been paid. I hope for a good decision to allow me get back my money,” said Edna.

“Shobukhova has not returned the money. I am still waiting for the response.”

Edna won 2014 London Marathon, then finished 10th last year after a third spot in 2011. She  finished second in 2012 and 2013, but won in New York Marathon in 2010 and finished 10th in 2014 at the same race. Despite this, she is back to training and has set her sights on the Olympic Games marathon squad; all eyeing to improve her 20th position she finished in London Olympics.

“I started training in December after a two-month rest. I am regaining strength and the body is responding well. I will just take part in marathon race. No road races. I am now preparing for Police cross-country to be held on Sunday. But my major marathon will be in April, where I will chase qualification time for the Olympics. That remains my main thing,” said Edna.

About 43 athletes have failed doping tests in the past three years and the highest number of high profile athletes, who have tested positive, were netted last year. That explains the excitement ahead of Wada's announcement tomorrow.

Edna, however, remains optimistic. “For several years, Kenyan athletes especially the ones we admired, have been running well even before we started. We looked up to them and still think majority of them are clean and talented. Even though there are a lot of doping cases, we plead with the federation, coaches, athletes, managers, to sensitise athletes on how to be responsible.

“Even though few cases have been reported, we want to make this year a good year in athletics. We want to change the image of athletes forever. This will be our turning point, a year with a difference. We want to bring back our image,” said Edna.

Edna refuted reports that one in four winners of the Big Six women marathon major series records suspicious blood tests.