Tests of the "B" sample were conducted between Wednesday (December 17) and Friday (December 19) at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lab in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Athletics Kenya (AK) said in a statement that it will hold a hearing of Jeptoo's case in early January.

The WMM award ceremony was scheduled for November 3 in New York City, one day after the city's marathon, but on October 31, it was revealed by American website RunBlogRun that Jeptoo produced a positive "A" urine sample result for the blood-boosting substance in Kenya on September 25.

If Jeptoo, winner of the Boston and Chicago Marathons in 2013 and 2014, is ruled to be disqualified, the $500,000 (£320,000/€409,000) prize fund would go to compatriot Edna Kiplagat, although she would have the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

World Marathon Majors are yet to respond to requests from insidethegames to confirm whether Jeptoo has already been disqualified from the standings.

Rita Jeptoo celebrates her success at the 2014 Boston Marathon in April ©Getty Images



But Jeptoo's failure has already provoked criticism from some quarters, with the United States' Stephanie Rothstein Bruce, a 2 hours 29min marathoner and third-placed American at the 2013 Boston Marathon, saying a two-year ban would not be enough.

"To me they're lifetime bans," she told Runner's World.

"I see no point in four-year, eight-year, 10-year bans, there's no point in letting someone back in the sport because what message is that going to send to people?

"The consequences aren't harsh enough to thwart people from trying to actually do drugs."

Other high-profile runners have reacted strongly too, including Dathan Ritzenhein, the top-ranked American in the Chicago Marathon in 2012 and 2013.

"I only wish Rita Jeptoo would have gotten caught earlier," he told Runner's World. 

"She spent at least a couple of years cashing in at the expense of others and deceiving those who support and love this sport.

"Her choices cast a shadow on the hard work and dedication of the overwhelming majority of clean athletes who live and breathe this sport.

"Everyone goes through tough times; she chose to take the easy road instead of the right one."

Jeptoo has won the last two Boston Marathons, to add to her victory there seven years earlier, and set a course record time of 2:18:57 at this year's event.

She broke the 2:20 mark for the first time at the 2013 Chicago Marathon before claiming a second victory at this year's edition in 2:24:35.

The United States' Dathan Ritzenhein said he only wishes that Rita Jeptoo "would have gotten caught earlier" ©Getty Images