Eliud Kipchoge bows out at 2025 New York City Marathon — as the event reels amid deeper unrest

At age 41, marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has chosen the 2025 New York City Marathon as the closing chapter of his elite-career in the Majors, but his swansong comes at a troubled moment for the sport he has helped define. (Malay Mail)

A fitting finale

Kipchoge, whose accolades include 11 wins in the World Marathon Majors and two Olympic golds, enters the New York race for the first time — the one Major that had eluded him. (Dawn)

He has made clear this will be his departure from elite marathon racing, to embark on “a new journey” beyond the roads. (The Independent)

In so doing, he hopes to seal his “six-star” (or even “seven-star”) legacy among the Majors. (SuperSport)

But the backdrop is grim

While the spectacle of New York’s five-borough race remains immense, the sheen has faded.

The broader marathon world is facing serious integrity issues — notably doping scandals involving several high-profile athletes and national federations.

• For example, Ruth Chepngetich, the women’s marathon world-record holder, was suspended for use of a masking agent. (The Guardian)

• Another Kenyan athlete, Brimin Kipkorir, faced a provisional suspension after testing positive for EPO and furosemide. (Reuters)

• The organising body for New York’s marathon, New York Road Runners, has publicly reaffirmed its anti-doping commitments in recent years — but the accumulation of scandals threatens the sport’s credibility. (New York Road Runners)

As one columnist put it, the event is “mired in more disgrace,” suggesting the elite marathon scene may be confronting a moment of reckoning. (The Times)

Why this matters

For Kipchoge, the timing is poignant. His departure marks the end of an era — the last of the all-conquering marathon Majors men of his generation.

But rather than being a purely celebratory moment, it is bittersweet: the very discipline he dominated is under scrutiny.

The paradox is stark: one of the sport’s most admired athletes exits while the sport’s reputation is being questioned.

For fans, athletes and organisers alike, the questions are urgent:

• Can marathon results still be trusted at the highest level?

• Will the exodus of icons like Kipchoge leave a void not just in performance, but in athletics narrative and public trust?

• What reforms — structural, cultural, regulatory — will follow to restore faith in elite distance running?

What to watch

• On race day in New York (2 November), attention will fall not only on Kipchoge’s performance but on how seriously the sport takes its integrity issues.

• The performance field will be monitored: what times are produced, who is invited, who is excluded. The message sent will reverberate.

• Beyond this race: how federations and the global marathon circuit respond to mounting suspicions of doping will shape the next decade of road-racing.

A personal note

For Kipchoge himself, the decision to step away resonates deeper than records.

He has spoken of motivation, running for “other things,” and using his legacy to inspire rather than just to win. (The Independent)

He remains an outspoken advocate for clean sport.

And yet, even he must run amid the consequences of a sport he loves being tainted.

 This is more than just one man’s final Major. It’s a moment of transition for marathon running itself.

As Kipchoge bows out in New York, the marquee event of the year for road racing is doing so under a shadow of distrust.

Whether the sport will emerge renewed or diminished remains to be seen.