World Marathon Majors (WMM) is putting Rita Jeptoo's title and $500,000 cash prize on hold, after the Kenyan running champ tested positive for endurance-boosting drug EPO (erythropoietin).

The test was carried out via urine and was administered at her home country in September. Jeptoo's agent, Federico Rosa, confirmed the news to the Associated Press. Rosa and Claudio Berardelli, who coached Jeptoo for 11 months, professed ignorance over her alleged doping.  

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Jeptoo's is this year's second high-profile case of doping among female runners. In April, Russian Liliya Shobukhova was given a two-year competitive ban by the Russian Athletics Federation (RAF) after "abnormalities" were found in her blood passport.  

Reports estimated Shobukhova earned around $1 million with her victories, which included the 2010 London Marathon.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) is yet to issue a decision about Jeptoo's case. Athletics Kenya, the country's governing body for track and field, will meet with Jeptoo next week, to discuss the possibility of testing with her B sample.

Should she fail in that one, Jeptoo will lose her most recent titles and receive a competition ban.  

Jeptoo was the defending champion of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which she won again this year. She also has back-to-back wins in Boston under her belt. She set a course record of 2hr 18min 57sec in 2013, ranking eighth best female marathon time of all time. WMM was set to honor Jeptoo for the 2013-2014 series in New York this Sunday.

WMM General Counsel Nick Bitel left this comment on the series' website: "WMM has always held a stern line on drugs cheats and has been proactively supporting the sports governing bodies to ensure the integrity of the athletes competing in their races."

"Cheats need to understand that they are not welcome in our sport and that they will be caught," warns Bitel.

TagsRita Jeptoo, World Marathon Majors, Rita Jeptoo drug test, Federico Rosa, Russian Liliya Shobukhova