Emily Chebet Muge (born 18 February 1986) is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who specialises in the 10,000 metres and cross country running. She is a two-time winner of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, being the gold medallist in 2010 and 2013.

Chebet's first medal was a bronze in the 10,000 m at the 2006 African Championships in Athletics and she also ran in that event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics.

In 2015, Chebet received a four year competition ban for testing positive for a banned substance.

Career

Early career Emily Chebet was born in Ainamoi in the Bomet District, a small settlement in Kenya's Rift Valley Province. Her father Joel Rono was a runner and, after seeing the success of Caroline Cheptanui Kilel (another budding runner from the village), Chebet decided to stop her studies and join the Kericho track club to try to become a professional runner.Focus on Athletes – Emily Chebet. IAAF (27 March 2013). Retrieved on 2 June 2013.

She made her first international appearance in the junior race at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where she finished in fifth place and won the junior team silver medal along with Peninah Jepchumba. She competed at meetings in Spain and Portugal in 2004, running in the 1500 metres, 3000 metres and a couple of 10K runs.. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2 June 2013. The following year she missed a place on the national team in cross country but she set a 3000 m best of 8:53.46 minutes at the Meeting Gaz de France in Paris. After taking second place at the Kenyan Athletics Championships, Chebet had her first senior podium finish at the 2006 African Championships, where she was the bronze medallist behind fellow Kenyans Edith Masai and Isabella Ochichi. In 2007, she did not finish in the heat of Mombasa at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, but she won the 10,000 m. She finished ninth in the 10,000 m at the 2007 World Championships. In her final outing of the year she helped Kenya to second place at the Chiba Ekiden Relay, having run the 5 km leg.

She skipped the 2008 and 2009 seasons as she married Edward Muge and the couple had their first child, Serah Cherono.

World champion She had a significant breakthrough in 2010 as she won the senior women's race at the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, out-sprinting Linet Masai (the world champion on the track) to take her first major world title.Johnson, Len (28 March 2010). Chebet's strong finish prevails – Women's Senior race report – Bydgoszcz 2010. IAAF. Retrieved on 6 June 2010. Chebet finished second in the 2010 Bay to Breakers. A few weeks later, she broke the course record at the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K; her six-second improvement on the record was the greatest ever in the race's history.Pardham, Ed (6 June 2010). Chebet beats the heat to set course record in Albany 5K. IAAF. Retrieved on 6 June 2010. She was defeated at the NYRR New York Mini 10K by national rival Linet Masai, but still finished as the runner-up with a time of 31:13.Masai dominates Central Park 10K. IAAF/New York Road Runners (13 June 2010). Retrieved on 14 June 2010. She ran in the 15K race at the Istanbul Eurasia Marathon competition and won with a minute to spare over runner-up Belaynesh Oljira.Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada (17 October 2010). Course records fall in Istanbul Eurasia Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 19 October 2010. She returned to the grassy Spanish circuit in November but was defeated by a large margin at the Cross de Atapuerca by Genzebe Dibaba.Valiente, Emeterio (7 November 2010). Medhin and Dibaba outclass World champions in Atapuerca. IAAF. Retrieved on 7 November 2010.

She missed the chance to defend her World Cross title in 2011 as she failed to finish at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships.Mutuota, Mutwiri (19 February 2011). Mutai and Masai take hard fought wins in Nairobi; reigning World champs Ebuya and Chebet won’t defend. IAAF. Retrieved on 20 February 2011. She returned to defend her title at the Freihofer's Run for Women in June, but ended the race in third behind Ethiopians Mamitu Daska and Aheza Kiros.Parham, Edward (4 June 2011). Daska dominates in Albany 5K. IAAF. Retrieved on 5 June 2011. She was sixth at the Prague Half Marathon, setting a time of 1:12:00 hours for her debut outing over the distance.Butcher, Pat (2 April 2011). Limo and Cheromei shatter course records at Prague Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 27 November 2011. Chebet competed in South America for the first time at the Bogota Half Marathon in August and took third place on the podium.Mutai and Chepkirui the winners in Bogota. IAAF/Organisers (1 August 2011). Retrieved on 21 September 2011. She ran one of the fastest 10K times of the year as runner-up at the Tilburg 10K, but her run of 31:18 minutes was still some way behind the winner Joyce Chepkirui.2011 10 kilometres. IAAF. Retrieved on 27 November 2011. In November, she returned to train in Kenya and won the Tuskys Wareng Cross Country race.Macharia, David (27 November 2011). Kiprop and Chebet dominate in Eldoret XC. IAAF. Retrieved on 27 November 2011.

Second world title Chebet took the bronze medal and team title with Kenya at the 2012 African Cross Country Championships held in Cape Town.Williamson, Norrie (19 March 2012). Langat and Chepkirui take African XC titles in Cape Town. IAAF. Retrieved on 25 March 2012. A knee injury ruled her out of the track and field season that year, but she returned in August and had runner-up finishes at the Falmouth Road Race, Beach to Beacon 10K and the Tilburg 10K (setting a best of 30:58 minutes at the latter).Emily Chebet . Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2 June 2013.

She placed fourth at the national cross country trials but went on to win her second world title at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, beating off a challenge from Hiwot Ayalew to claim both the individual and team gold medals.Bamford, Nicola (25 March 2013). Comeback queen Chebet now focused on Moscow 10000m – Bydgoszcz 2013. IAAF. Retrieved on 2 June 2013. In June she won her second title at the Freihofer's Women's Run.Chebet claims second Freihofer's win, but heat thwarts course record bid. IAAF (1 June 2013). Retrieved on 2 June 2013. A runner-up placing at the Kenyan trials earned her selection for the 10,000 m at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics and she came close to a medal by running a personal best of 30:47.02 minutes, taking fourth place. She ended the track season with a 5000 m best of 14:46.89 minutes at the Weltklasse Zürich meet. Moving on to the roads, she was runner-up at the Prague Grand Prix and the Valencia Half Marathon, setting another best of 68:20 minutes at the latter event.October 2013 . AIMS. Retrieved on 2 November 2013.

She is managed by Prague-based International Athletics Consultancy (IAC), with her IAAF Authorized Athletes' Representative being Zane Branson.

On 27 November 2015, Athletics Kenya announced that Chebet had used a WADA forbidden substance, the masking agent Furosemide, and she was sanctioned with a four-year competition ban, effective 15 July 2015.

Personal bests 1500 metres – 4:18.75 min (2005) 3000 metres – 8:53.46 min (2005) 5,000 metres – 14:46.89 min (2013) 10,000 metres – 30:47.02 min (2013) 10 km – 30:58 min (2012) Half marathon – 1:08:20 hrs (2013)

Achievements Representing 2003World Cross Country ChampionshipsLausanne, Switzerland5thJunior race2ndJunior team2006African ChampionshipsBambous, Mauritius3rd10,000 m31:33.392007World Cross Country ChampionshipsMombasa, Kenya—Senior raceDNFWorld Championships in AthleticsOsaka, Japan9th10,000 m32:31.212010World Cross Country ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland1stSenior race1stTeam race2013World Cross Country ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland1stSenior race24:241stTeam raceWorld ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia4th10,000 m30:47.02 PB2014Commonwealth GamesGlasgow, United Kingdom3rd10,000 m32:10.82

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