Kenya’s Olympic champion Jemima Sumgong fails drug test

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Jemima Jelagat Sumgong celebrates winning the women's marathon during the August 2016 Rio Games. PHOTO: COURTESY.

Nairobi, KENYA:  Kenya’s athletic fraternity has yet again been rocked with drug test failure peril.

This follows reports that the 2016 Rio Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong has tested positive for the prohibited substances.

According the International Association of Athletics Federations IAAF, the 32-year old long distance runner failed the drug test for the banned substance EPO.

“We can confirm that an anti-doping rule violation case concerning Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) has commenced this week,” the IAAF said in a statement.

“The athlete tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin) following a no-notice test conducted in Kenya.”

“This was part of an enhanced IAAF out-of-competition testing programme dedicated to elite marathon runners which is supported by the Abbott World Marathon Majors group.”

This come as Sumgong who wrote history as the first ever Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a marathon race, was due to defend her London marathon title later this month.

Additional reporting by BBC Sports

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