Kenyan marathoner Jeptoo goes for B sample

Rita Jeptoo, the Kenyan female marathon star at the centre of a doping storm, will activate her option for her B Sample to be tested to establish whether it supports the adverse results of her A Sample that returned positive for blood booster EPO.

Jeptoo, a three-time winner at Boston and twice champion of Chicago, spent Tuesday appearing before the Athletics Kenya (AK) Medical and Anti-Doping Commission where she submitted her written report in a hearing, reports Xinhua.

"We would like to inform you that the athlete has been formally notified of the adverse analytical finding. The athlete has provided her written explanation for the adverse analytical finding," AK said in a statement.

The statement said the athlete expressed her right to have the analysis of the B sample which has been forwarded to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for further consideration.

"Owing to the nature of the above subject matter and as guided by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) code and the IAAF rules, the athlete has certain rights that safeguard her. At this early stage therefore, we would like to make it clear that this matter is guided by utmost confidentiality. We are happy with our first meeting and the athlete has been cooperative throughout," the statement said.

The athletics body said it's taking the doping matter very seriously and "we would like to prove to the world that we are not lying on things that we know are bad," AK vice-president in charge of administration David Okeyo said.

Under WADA rules, Jeptoo, the federation and her representatives can opt to be present when the glass seal on her B Sample is broken for the test to be conducted.

The international athletics fraternity was thrown into a spin last Thursday when reports surfaced that Jeptoo's A Sample pertaining to an out of competition test conducted in September had tested positive for a banned substance widely reported to be EPO.