Hugh Brasher, the CEO of the London Marathon, has pledged to "catch cheats" as part of a broader initiative for clean sport within the World Marathon Majors. This commitment comes in the wake of a shocking incident where reigning world champion Peres Jepchirchir was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for EPO.

Peres Jepchirchir, a 33-year-old Kenyan athlete, who previously won gold at the 2020 Olympics and the 2024 London Marathon, tested positive following her victory at the Sydney Marathon on August 30, 2026. Her suspension has left Brasher feeling "incredible disappointment" and has sparked discussions about the integrity of marathon racing.

Brasher emphasized the importance of maintaining clean sport, stating:

It's disappointing that somebody has potentially cheated.

• The implications of cheating extend beyond the individual, affecting those who placed second, third, and fourth.

The London Marathon has significantly increased its financial support for the AIU, contributing over $700,000 (£524,000) this year to enhance testing capabilities. Brasher noted that the funding has already led to increased testing, which played a role in identifying Jepchirchir's potential doping.

In response to cheating, Brasher confirmed that athletes caught will face bans from prestigious marathon events, highlighting that the London Marathon alone awarded $230,000 (£172,000) in prize money during its last race. He stated:

Our job is to catch cheats. We are allowed to ban them from taking part in our events.

Despite the ongoing efforts, Brasher acknowledged the difficulty of recouping prize money from past races if athletes fail drug tests later. Jepchirchir, known for her remarkable achievements, remains one of the sport’s elite, but her future now hangs in the balance as the AIU continues its investigation.