Athlete Viola Jepchumba the Kenyan born, Bahrain runner has been banned for four years after the presence of EPO was found in her test samples. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) issued the final verdict on its website stating the ban. Tests carried out on the athlete between 28th August 2017 and 30th September 2017 revealed that the athlete has been using the banned enhancing drug.
Viola Jepuchumba who specializes in long distance races up to the half marathon holds her personal best of 65:51 is ranked as the third fastest woman ever in this race.
Kenyans are waiting in bated breath for the Disciplinary Tribunal hearing for Beijing 2008 Olympics and three-time men 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop.
AIU confirmed in May that the three-time World champion had tested positive for banned blood booster, EPO and earlier this week, he posted a sordid video on social media featuring him in a compromising position with the wife of his friend and pacemaker, Andrew Rotich.
According to a flurry of social media posts between the erstwhile friends turned bitter love rivals traded accusations with Kiprop alleging Rotich set him up with the AIU, taking his revenge by exposing the affair with his wife.
Before that, Kiprop has strenuously protested his innocence and his hearing is set for London on September 25 having been provisionally suspended pertain to an out of competition test at his home in November last year.
World Championships men 800m bronze winner, Kipyegon Bett, 2006 Commonwealth women 10,000m champion, Lucy Wangui Kabuu and Samuel Kalalei are other Kenyan athletes charged alongside Kiprop in the last two months for dope-related offenses.
Bett faces two charges, finding of EPO in his system from a test conducted in June and evading Doping Control Officers twice.
AIU is also seeking to extend the four year ban meted on women’s Olympics marathon champion, Jemimah Jelagat Sumgong after accusing her of lying over the source of the EPO that saw her handed a four-year ban last year.