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Boston Marathon Champ Rita Jeptoo Fails Drug Test

BOSTON (CBS) -- Rita Jeptoo, a three-time Boston Marathon champion who set a course record in April, has failed a drug test.

According to Larry Eder of RunBlogRun, the Kenyan runner failed the test in September:

In an exclusive to RunBlogRun, trusted sources have confirmed that, at the end of September 2014, Rita Jeptoo tested positive in her A sample test for a banned substance in an out of competition testing. The out of competition testing procedure was done in Kenya. The testing was done by a urine sample. 

Jeptoo's agent, Federico Rosa, confirmed the report to The Associated Press Friday afternoon. They are now awaiting test results from Jeptoo's B sample.

With her win in Boston and at the Chicago Marathon this year, Jeptoo was set to be crowned the World Marathon Majors women's champion at a ceremony this weekend. That has now been postponed.

World Marathon Majors released the following statement about Jeptoo's failed test:

World Marathon Majors is disappointed to learn that Rita Jeptoo has apparently had an A test that proved positive for a banned substance under IAAF rules.

World Marathon Majors has been at the forefront of the fight against doping in our sport and has a rule that no athlete can win the World Marathon Majors Series title, who has been in breach of IAAF anti-doping rules. WMM events were the first major events to confirm that all elite athletes taking part in their events would be blood tested and have consistently called for wider testing by others. Additionally, WWM has previously agreed that any athlete found guilty of a doping offence will not be invited back to its races.

As part of that fight against doping, WMM has been giving support and financial help to the IAAF anti doping drive and helped fund a wider programme of out of competition testing.   

Nick Bitel General Counsel of WMM said, "WMM has always held a stern line on drugs cheats and has been proactively supporting the sports governing bodies to ensure the integrity of the athletes competing in their races. Cheats need to understand that they are not welcome in our sport and that they will be caught."

 At present there has been no decision in this case by the IAAF, including in relation to sanctions, and as a result WMM is unable to comment further until that determination has been made although in the circumstances it has been decided to postpone the WMM Awards Ceremony that was due to take place on the 2nd November 2014.  

The Boston Athletic Association issued the following statement on Friday:

"We will await the issuance of an official statement from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) before further addressing the matter.

"Top finishers at the Boston Marathon are tested in accordance with the strict guidelines set forth by the IAAF, and the B.A.A. cooperates with all testing procedures and is supportive of the protocol. It is premature for us to provide additional comment at this point.

"Boston has been and continues to be an advocate for strict anti-doping measures along with the other events which comprise the World Marathon Majors."

Jeptoo set a Boston course record in 2014, completing the historic race in 2:18:57. In addition to her 2014 victory in Boston, Jeptoo also won in 2006 and 2013.

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