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Another week, and another doping story in the sports news. In Nairobi, Rita Jeptoo attended a hearing with Kenyan athletics officials following her failed drugs test.

So why do athletes feel the need to resort to drugs to achieve their goals? And is it possible for the human body to be pushed to a limit where "clean" runners can match the times of those who dope?

Well, a group of scientists are aiming to push the ultimate running test - the marathon - to under two hours, and they hope to achieve the feat in just five years, without the use of drugs.

Here's what they'd need to do.

The current men's world record of 2 hours 02 minutes and 57 seconds was set by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto just a few months ago in Berlin.

Kimetto was running just over 4 minutes and 41 seconds a mile - a sub-two hour marathon would mean running less than 4 minutes and 35 seconds per mile.

Will a human ever run that fast?

Professor Yannis Pitsiladis, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Brighton is leading the 'Sub 2 Hour Project' and believes the two hour marathon barrier will be conquered within five years.

(Image: Dennis Kimetto, Credit: AP)

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