Peter Eriksson, former head coach of Athletics Canada, has launched an online petition accusing three key governing bodies—World Athletics (WA), the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)—of failing to effectively combat doping in athletics.
Eriksson’s petition specifically demands the release of test results and records for Ruth Chepngetich, the women’s marathon world record holder.
Chepngetich’s record-breaking time of 2:09:56, set in October 2024, has sparked controversy, with Eriksson asserting that the performance “exceeds the limits of female human potential.”
Chepngetich’s achievement made her the first woman to break the 2:10:00 barrier in the marathon, slashing nearly two minutes off the previous record set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in 2023.
While the record was celebrated by some, it also drew skepticism, particularly given Kenya’s ongoing doping scandal. According to the AIU Global List of Ineligible Persons, over 100 Kenyan athletes are currently serving suspensions for doping violations.
In his petition, Eriksson expressed concerns about the ratification of Chepngetich’s record, which took place on December 11, 2024. He described the performance as a symbol of the failure of WA, AIU, and WADA to curb doping in the sport.
“The ratification of Ruth Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 marathon performance in Chicago on October 13, 2024, which has been met with profound skepticism by leading athletics experts, highlights the inability of these organizations to detect and control rampant doping in international athletics,” Eriksson wrote.
He further criticized the agencies for neglecting their duty to safeguard opportunities for clean athletes.
Eriksson’s Proposals for Reform
To address the issue, Eriksson proposed several measures, including:
- Publicly disclosing and suspending coaches and agents associated with athletes who test positive for doping.
- Enhancing testing protocols, particularly in East Africa.
- Reporting progress on enhanced testing efforts every six months.
- Imposing immediate suspensions for the remainder of the year on athletes from countries with more than 10 positive doping cases annually.
Eriksson, 72, served as the head coach for Athletics Canada from 2013 to 2016, overseeing both Olympic and Paralympic programs. During his tenure, he significantly improved Canada’s medal performance at major events, including six Olympic medals and seven Paralympic medals at the 2016 Rio Games.
For his contributions, Eriksson was named Athletics Canada Coach of the Year in 2008 and received the Medal of Confederation from the Senate of Canada in 2017. After leaving Athletics Canada in 2016, he worked as a high-performance adviser for Own the Podium, a Canadian elite sports funding agency, before transitioning to independent consultancy in 2021.
Eriksson’s petition reflects growing concerns over doping in athletics, particularly in countries with repeated violations. By calling for greater transparency and accountability, Eriksson aims to protect the integrity of the sport and ensure a level playing field for clean athletes.
