London marathon women’s defending champion Edna Kiplagat said Monday she supported increased drug testing for elite marathon runners as a way of eliminating doping.
The 35-year-old two-time world champion said increased out-of-competition testing introduced by the World Marathon Majors (WMM) and the IAAF, in the wake of compatriot Rita Jeptoo’s failed drug test, would force many Kenyan runners to be more careful.
“We have been subjected to drug testing in the past but this has increased in the last few months. The situation may be a bit uncomfortable for us but I believe this is a good move to try and arrest the situation which had threatened to get out of hand,” Kiplagat told AFP ahead of her trip to London for Sunday’s race.
“It is sad what happened to Rita. As an experienced runner, she should have known better.”
Kiplagat stands to be confirmed as the winner of the 500,000-dollar 2013-2014 WMM series women’s title after Jeptoo, who had topped the chart on 100 points, was stripped of the title and slapped with a two-year ban for the positive drug test.
But Kiplagat, who was placed second in the standing, said she has yet to be informed by the WMM organisers about the presentation of the award.
If confirmed as WMM winner, Kiplagat will be the third Kenyan woman winner after two other former London marathon champions, Mary Keitany and Priscah Jeptoo.
Both Keitany and Jeptoo who are also part of the Kenyan contingent in the women’s race for Sunday.
Fellow Kenyan Wilson Kipsang, who will be defending the men’s London marathon title, is already assured of clinching the top prize in his category.