Tulane freshman Caroline Jeptanui delivered an impressive performance at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing 12th and earning All-American honors.
But what seemed like a breakthrough moment for the Kenyan distance runner has since been overshadowed by controversy. Unbeknownst to many, Jeptanui was under a provisional doping suspension at the time of the race.
Nearly two months before competing in Madison, Wisconsin, on November 23, Jeptanui had been suspended by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) for allegedly evading a drug test.
Despite this, she continued to race for Tulane throughout the fall season, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of anti-doping enforcement and oversight within collegiate athletics.
How Did This Happen?
Jeptanui’s provisional suspension, issued on September 28, 2024, stemmed from an alleged refusal to submit to a drug test at the Kapsabet Half Marathon in March.
Reports indicate that she not only evaded the test but also attempted to conceal her identity from doping control officials. This kind of infraction is considered a serious offense under anti-doping regulations, often leading to lengthy bans from competition.
Despite this, Jeptanui continued to race for Tulane throughout the fall, winning five cross-country meets, including the American Athletic Conference Championship. She also competed in at least one indoor track meet in 2025, winning the 3,000 meters at the LSU Twilight Meet on February 21.
So how was she able to compete for months while under suspension?
The answer seems to lie in administrative gaps and a lack of communication between ADAK, World Athletics, and the NCAA.
While ADAK had issued the suspension, the information had not yet been fully disseminated to international governing bodies, allowing Jeptanui to slip through the cracks and continue racing.
Tulane’s Response—Or Lack Thereof
Tulane’s athletics department has remained largely silent on the controversy.
Head coach Adrian Myers has not responded to inquiries, and an assistant coach told reporters that they had no prior knowledge of Jeptanui’s suspension.
This raises troubling questions about how closely collegiate programs monitor the eligibility of their international athletes and whether universities are equipped to track anti-doping violations issued by foreign agencies.
Tulane later issued a brief statement affirming its commitment to integrity in athletics and stating that it was working with relevant organizations to review the situation.
However, no specifics were given about how Jeptanui was allowed to compete for nearly five months while under a suspension.
Kenya’s Ongoing Doping Crisis
Jeptanui’s case is just the latest in a long and troubling pattern of doping violations among Kenyan distance runners.
In recent years, Kenya has seen a surge in athletes being caught using banned substances, prompting concerns about systemic issues within the country’s athletics infrastructure.
By the end of 2024, the AIU reported 481 athletes and support personnel on its ineligibility list. This global list represented individuals who received bans from athletics for violating anti-doping regulations.
Kenya alone accounted for a significant portion of the list, 119 of the 481 athletes, or 24.74%, to be exact.
The reasons for Kenya’s widespread doping problem are complex.
Some athletes fall prey to unscrupulous coaches and agents who push performance-enhancing drugs as a shortcut to success.
Others may not fully understand anti-doping regulations or the risks associated with taking certain medications.
There’s also the reality that success in running can be life-changing for many Kenyan athletes, leading some to take desperate measures to stay competitive.
To combat the problem, ADAK and the Kenyan government have ramped up testing efforts, increased penalties, and even proposed criminal charges for those involved in doping schemes.
However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and as Jeptanui’s case demonstrates, gaps in communication between anti-doping bodies and international federations continue to allow violations to slip through the cracks.
What Happens Next?
Jeptanui’s case is now under review, and if found guilty of evading a drug test, she could face a ban of up to four years.
This would not only derail her collegiate career but also put her future as an elite runner in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, the NCAA and Tulane will have to answer tough questions about how they failed to catch her ineligibility before she raced on the sport’s biggest collegiate stage.
