BEDFORD CHEAT WARNING
LONDON Marathon boss David Bedford has warned that the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs is at a ‘significant level’ in elite distance running because of the cash on offer.
The former 10,000m world record-holder spoke out yesterday after Kenyan Olympic champion Jemima Sumgong tested positive for the blood booster EPO.
Sumgong, who followed last year’s London Marathon win with the gold medal in Rio in 2016, can now request that her ‘B’ sample is also tested.
If that is positive she faces a two-year ban at least and could lose almost $ 1million in prize and appearance money, given that she was due a big payday for defending her London title on April 23.
Bedford, who assembled London’s elite field, expressed disappointment but was pleased that extra testing funded by the World Marathon Majors not only worked but seems to have caught such a big fish.
He said World Marathon Majors target around 100 runners for extra testing up to six months before a big event. ‘When something like (Sumgong’s test) comes out some in our sport are seriously p****d off but there is a sufficient number who care about integrity,’ he explained.
‘I wouldn’t say (cheating) is extensive but it’s at a significant level — what you’d expect in a sport so financially well-heeled.’
Forty Kenyan athletes failed tests between 201116, though their officials insist that it is because less talented athletes try to take short cuts to the top.
But Sumgong is a superstar and clearly targeted after training partner Rita Jeptoo failed a test in 2014. Her agent Federico Rosa also faced drug- related charges in 2016. It is now likely other Sumgong samples, dating back to Rio and beyond, will be tested.