Veteran Swedish coach Peter Eriksson recently filed an online petition calling for the suspension of Kenya from all athletics events.Eriksson, a former coach for Britain and Canada has raised concerns following Ruth Chepng’etich’s historic marathon performance, claiming her achievement “exceeds the limits of female human potential.”No rest: On-form Chebet headlines weekend cross-country actionChepng’etich, a self-coached athlete, made history at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon by becoming the first female marathoner to break the 2:10 barrier, clocking an astonishing 2:09:56.Her record-breaking run, which shaved nearly two minutes off Tigist Assefa’s previous world record of 2:11:53 set in Berlin in 2023, was officially ratified by World Athletics on December 11.##NAJAVA_MECA_8609888##The rigorous ratification process included course certification, timing accuracy, and anti-doping tests, confirming the legitimacy of her achievement.Despite these measures, Eriksson has accused the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), World Athletics, and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of failing to combat widespread doping in the sport.Kipchoge cracks, Kiptum demise and world records galore – Kenya athletics in 2024His petition calls for the release of Chepng’etich’s tests and records from the 12 months leading up to her record-breaking 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 scepticism 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,” Eriksson stated in his petition.##NAJAVA_MECA_8609893##The 72-year-old Swede’s demands include:1. Disclosing and suspending coaches and agents linked to athletes who test positive for doping.2. Enhancing testing protocols, particularly in East Africa.3. Publishing semi-annual reports on the enhanced testing efforts.4. Imposing immediate suspensions for all athletes from countries with over 10 doping violations in a calendar year.Ruth Chepngetich set to light up Madrid on New Year’s EveIf Eriksson’s recommendations are implemented, Kenya—a nation with over 70 doping violations in the past three years will face a blanket ban. This will sideline her athletes from international competition.Eriksson has described the current situation as a “dereliction” of the duty to protect clean athletes, calling for stricter measures against nations with widespread doping cases.
