• 3000m Steeple Olympic Champion and World Record Holder Ruth Jebet Tests Positive for EPO
According to The Guardian Ruth Jebet the Rio Olympics champion and World record holder over 3000m steeple has tested positive for a banned substance.
While World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) have not yet released an official statement regarding Jebet's positive test, several well-known sources revealed The Guardian that the 21-year-old athlete, Jebet, has tested positive for blood booster EPO.
Ruth Jebet is a Kenyan-born athlete who few years switched allegiances to run for Bahrain. Even though Jebet is a Bahrain citizen, she still lives and trains in Kenya.
At 2016 Olympic games in Rio Jebet, who was at that time 18-years-old, won 3000m steeple-chase gold. For winning the Olympic gold medal Bahrain government paid the athlete $500,000USD bonus. At a Diamond League meeting on August 27, 2016 Jebet set a new 3000m steeplechase world record of 8:52.78.
“Honestly I am surprised and shocked. I am absolutely not aware of anything. I tried to reach Ruth but her phone is not answering. I have absolutely no official information.” Jebet's agent Marc Corstjens told media.
Last year the 2016 Olympic and London marathon winner Jemima Sumgong also tested positive for EPO.