Jemima Sumgong will not defend London Marathon title

Sumgong, who also won the Olympic marathon title in Rio last summer, has been suspended pending the test on her B sample after an initial test was positive for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO.

A statement from Nick Bitel, the chief executive of London Marathon Events Limited said: "We are extremely disappointed to learn that Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) failed an out of competition drugs test in February.

"She is currently suspended from competition pending the B test and the outcome of the investigation.

"Sumgong will therefore not run in London on April 23 to defend the title she won last year."

She is currently the leader in the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Abbott WMM) Series X standings which concludes in Boston on April 17. 

Under Abbott WMM rules, if she were to finish top of the rankings at conclusion of the Series, an athlete who fails a drug test and is banned is not eligible to win the Series or to receive any prize money." 

The sport's global governing body the IAAF confirmed Sumgong's positive test.

"The IAAF can confirm that an anti-doping rule violation case concerning the athlete Jemima Jelagat Sumgong (Kenya) has commenced this week," an IAAF statement said.

"The athlete tested positive for EPO following a no-notice test conducted by the IAAF 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." 

Anti-doping samples are split into A and B samples, with the latter being a smaller amount of blood or urine used to confirm the initial test. 

The IAAF said it would make no further comment on her case until the process was completed.

The news, however, is devastating for both Kenya and the sport, as the east African country has an appalling recent record for doping and athletics is trying to rebuild its reputation after a series of scandals.

Sumgong's former training partner Rita Jeptoo tested positive for EPO in 2014 after winning the Boston and Chicago marathons and Kenya was only declared compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency rules shortly before the start of last year's Olympics.

The news is also likely to be very expensive for Sumgong, who had the WMM Series X first prize of £400,000 sewn up, providing she did not fail a drugs test.

As Bitel explained: "London Marathon Events will take legal proceedings against athletes who have been disqualified from its events for failed tests if they do not repay money that they have received from the event.

"But Sumgong's positive test is a big win for the out-of-competition testing programme funded by WMM, particularly as it took place in one of the distance-running training camps that have proved so hard for anti-dopers to effectively cover.

"We are determined to make marathon running a safe haven from doping. In addition to testing operated by the IAAF and national federations, the Abbott WMM has set up one of the largest private testing pool of athletes in sport, with the aim being to test 150 competitors out of competition a minimum of six times a year.

"London Marathon Events Ltd and Abbott WMM will continue to do everything we can to ensure cheats are caught and do not benefit from cheating.

"The London Marathon has always been at the forefront of the fight against doping. The race has a zero tolerance policy towards doping and athletes who are banned for a doping offence are banned for life from the event and any other race organised by London Marathon Events Ltd."