Doping: Top-52 female 1500-metre runners

© Copyright – 2016 – Athletics Illustrated

Below are the top-52 female 1500-metre runners all-time. These 52 athletes have produced the top-100 times in history. Some have multiple results in the top-100. The 100th fastest time is by Faith Kipyegon of Kenya at 3:58.01. Only an athlete’s personal best is indicated.

Under the column: “notes” is very limited information on why their performance(s) are suspected of being aided by performance enhancing drugs or contains notes of controversy related to the athlete. For example, Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba’s Coach Jama Aden was arrested during a raid on his hotel room in Spain. Although the Spanish authorities claim to have found performance enhancing drugs and needles in his hotel room and claim to have witnessed him disposing of used needles, he was let go without charges.

Apparently 20 of the 22 athletes that were found at the hotel were tested on the spot, however, zero tested positive for banned products.

The note: “Ma’s Army” relates to Ma Junren, who was fired by the Chinese authorities as six of his athletes tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Some of his athletes admitted years later that they took performance enhancing drugs unknowingly as Junren apparently lied to them about their supplements. Their records have been considered suspicious since.

The note: “Russian system” assumes – and this is presumptuous – that the Russian athlete have likely taken performance enhancing drugs, as the Russian state doping system forced athletes to take PEDs. Some of the athletes were suspended for swapping urine samples, refusing to take tests and tested positive for PEDs, however, some have no record whatsoever.

Any notes related to doping suspicions does not directly implicate any athlete including american Mary Slaney, who was suspended and reinstated and the banned amount/ratio of testosterone were adjusted after she was re-instated. Romania’s Gabriela Szabo was transporting drugs in her car; however, there is no proof that she consumed any.

It is interesting to note that exactly half of the competitors during the 2012 London Olympic 1500-metre finals were doped, six of 12.