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The veteran Swedish coach, who worked in Britain and Canada, has an issue with the ratification of Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record while he wants Kenya locked out from competitions over doping.
The cloud surrounding Ruth Chepng’etich’s world marathon record has not cleared yet despite her new mark being ratified by World Athletics is December.
Chepng’etich ran an astonishing 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October, becoming the first female marathoner to run under 2:10, having lowered Tigist Assefa’s mark by nearly two minutes, but that achievement was greeted by doubts and questions over its authenticity.
No sooner had Chepng’etich started celebrating than she was answering questions over whether her record was fueled by something else other than her own potential and over two months later, it is still rumbling on.
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11:04 - 10.12.2024
Ruth Chepng’etich answers question about whether she is given enough recognition
Ruth Chepng’etich, the new world marathon record holder, believes she deserves greater recognition for inspiring others.
World Athletics ratified the world record on December 11, all but confirming its legitimacy, as before such a decision, a rigorous process that includes course certification, timing accuracy and anti-doping tests is conducted.
However, even with that, it seems Chepng’etich’s critics are still not satisfied as former Britain and Canada athletics coach Peter Eriksson has filed an online petition over the world record, claiming her achievement “exceeds the limits of female human potential.”
In his petition, Eriksson has accused the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of failing to prevent widespread doping in athletics while requesting the three entities to release the tests and records of Chepng’etich in the 12 months leading to the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
“The ratification on 11 December 2024 of Ruth Chepng’etich’s 2:09:56 marathon performance in Chicago on 13 October 2024, which has been greeted with profound skepticism by leading athletics experts because it exceeds the limits of female human potential, is an embodiment and symbol of the abject failure of World Athletics (WA), the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to detect and control rampant doping in international athletics,” he says in his petition.
It does not end there, the 72-year-old Swede also wants more punishment to nations with widespread doping cases, including suspending all its athletes from competition, and he has cited East Africa in his petition, seemingly targeting Kenya.
Eriksson says that it is a “…dereliction of their [WADA, World Athletics and AIU] duty to protect the interests of and opportunities for clean athletes…” with his four demands being;
“(1) the disclosure and suspension and coaches and agents linked to athletes who test positive for doping,
(2) enhanced testing, particularly in East Africa,
(3) reporting back on the enhanced testing on a half yearly basis and
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08:03 - 25.12.2024
Barnaba Korir: Why this fight against doping is personal for Kenya
Athletics Kenya has been intensifying efforts against doping, unveiling comprehensive strategies to protect its athletes and sporting legacy.
(4) to immediately suspend all athletes from competition for the balance of a calendar year from any country that has more than 10 of its athletes test positive during the calendar year.”
Kenya has had over 70 athletes punished over various doping offences in the last three years and would fall under the criteria of nations to be suspended as per Eriksson’s petition.
The country has, however, upped efforts to fight the doping menace with the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency staying vigilant although the body has recently complained of low budgetary allocations.
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14:00 - 28.11.2024
Budget crisis persists as WADA pressures Kenya to revive anti-doping campaigns
A 93% reduction in ADAK's budget has continued to cripple Kenya's anti-doping efforts drawing scrutiny from WADA.
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