Kenyan Doping Scandal: Should Agents and Coaches Be Held Accountable? — image accompanying Canadian Running's report. Image accompanying Canadian Running’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Kenyan athletes face ongoing doping issues, with over 140 athletes banned in the past decade. Peres Jepchirchir, a 2021 Olympic champion, recently tested positive for EPO. Calls for banning coaches and agents follow such incidents.
Agents and coaches often argue they are unaware of athletes' doping. Gianni Demadonna, Jepchirchir's agent, claims he was unaware of her doping. He emphasizes the difficulty of monitoring athletes constantly and the athletes' financial motivations. Read more culture coverage.
Some agents and coaches have faced accusations. Rosa Associati and Volare Sports were investigated but cleared. Rosa has implemented frequent blood tests and fired athletes who tested positive. He stresses the athletes' autonomy in doping decisions. Related: World Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir Suspended Over EPO Finding.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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Questions about this report
What should runners know about Kenyan Doping Scandal: Should Agents and Coaches Be Held Accountable??
Debate over whether agents and coaches should be banned following doping violations by Kenyan athletes. Kenyan athletes face ongoing doping issues, with over 140 athletes banned in the past decade. Peres Jepchirchir, a 2021 Olympic champion, recently tested positive for EPO. Calls for banning coaches and agents follow such incidents.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on October 26, 2026. The underlying Canadian Running report was dated October 26, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Canadian Running. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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