Even Brigid Kosgei Skeptical of Brigid Kosgei’s Marathon World Record
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Kenya's Brigid Kosgei won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in a world record 2 hours 14 minutes 4 seconds—a time that bettered the previous record, set in 2003, by an astonishing 81 seconds. But critics, including Kosgei herself, immediately questioned the performance.
“It makes me sad,” Kosgei told reporters shortly after her finish, “but these days it seems there’s a cloud hanging over every record-breaking run. Is the runner clean? Maybe, maybe not.”
“It’s a shame,” she added. “It’s so hard anymore to know what’s legit and what isn’t.”
Kosgei's agent, Federico Rosa, has a history of working with athletes who have been banned for doping, including Asbel Kiprop, the former world 1,500m champion; Jemima Sumgong, the 2016 London marathon and Olympic champion; and Rita Jeptoo, the 2013 Chicago Marathon winner.
“Obviously, that doesn’t mean I’m doping,” Kosgei said. “But it does raise questions, doesn’t it? Especially given the enormous gap (at Chicago) between me and the second-place finisher.”
Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethopia finished in second place Sunday, nearly seven minutes behind Kosgei. A fellow Ehiopian, Gelete Burka, followed just four seconds later.
There is no evidence to suggest that Kosgei’s run was aided by performance-enhancing drugs, as many were quick to point out. However, doping is widespread in Kenya—some 41 Kenyan athletes are currently “under sanctions” for doping—and Rosa, Kosgei’s agent, only adds to the atmosphere of suspicion.
As one Twitter user noted, “Sadly, in a sport that's tainted by doping, dominant performances always raise questions, [especially] when the athlete is so close to other dopers.”
It’s a regrettable situation all around, Kosgei said, but she feels powerless to do anything to change it.
“As an elite runner, what are you going to do?” she asked rhetorically. “Hire an agent who isn’t known for working with a succession of dirty athletes?”
