Ruth Chepng'etich: Women’s Marathon World Record Holder Suspended for Doping
- The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Ruth Chepng'etich, the women's marathon world record holder, for doping
- Prohibited substances were found in her sample taken in March, and she accepted voluntary suspension three months before she was charged
- Chepng'etich's world record, set in Chicago last year and extensively questioned at the time, is now tainted
Ruth Chepng'etich, the women's marathon world record holder, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for a banned substance.
Source: Getty Images
The 30-year-old shattered the women's world record (2:09:56) in October at the Chicago Marathon, and her record was ratified by World Athletics in December 2024. She is the only woman to run a marathon under two hours and ten minutes.
What has Ruth Chepng'etich tested positive for?
On Thursday, July 17, AIU released a statement saying they have suspended the Kenyan. The results come from a sample they collected on March 14 this year.
"The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended marathon world record-holder, Ruth Chepng'etich, for the presence and use of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) relating to a sample collected from her on March 14, this year," the statement read.
AIU head Brett Clothier revealed that Chepng'etich opted for a voluntary provisional suspension on April 19, during the investigations. She also withdrew from the 2025 London marathon.
"A Notice of Charge has been issued against Chepng'etich regarding the detection of the prohibited substance – a diuretic – following an investigation into the Kenyan athlete’s positive test which was reported to the AIU on 3 April this year, at an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL in urine."
Chepng'etich's suspension marks the latest case of a Kenyan athlete testing positive for prohibited substances. Her world record is now tainted, and it will be difficult for fans to view her in the same light.
HCTZ is a diuretic, used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension. Under the WADA Code, it is a class S5 Prohibited Substance (Diuretics and Masking Agents), prohibited at all times and a Specified Substance.
Diuretics may be abused to mask the presence in urine of other Prohibited Substances1.
She faces a two-year ban from athletics.
Did Ruth Chepng'etich dope at Chicago Marathon?
Chepng'etich entered the 2024 Chicago Marathon with a personal best of 2:15:37 but lowered it to 2:09:56. She shaved almost two minutes off the previous mark of 2:11:53 set by Tigist Assefa.
She faced doping accusations from many on social media, but Kenyans staunchly defended her.
“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself. This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record. The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum," she said after breaking the record via World Athletics.
Source: Getty Images
World Athletics ratified her record on December 11. Although she could still compete after her ban, nothing will be the same again.
Federico Rosa, Chepngetich's representative was charged in court over doping of his athletes, but was later released. Olympic champion Jemima Sumgong and Rita Jeptoo were banned for doping in the last decade.
How has athletics world reacted to Chepngetich's suspension?
@Gentracles:
"This is a big one. It could lead to Russia-like sanctions on Kenya."
@silvajnr88:
"This newfound obsession with records & fast times is what has gotten us here. What happened to just simple racing & letting people enjoy that? Every other race there's always a record to be broken & a fast time to be achieved & athletes are going above & beyond to hit this."
@alannahkelly6:
"Not surprising in the slightest. At this point you just assume everyone’s doping and are more surprised if they aren’t."
@scnelson7:
"Lifetime ban from the sport. Stripped of all trophies, records and money earned."
Faith Kipyegon smashes 1500m world record
In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Faith Kipyegon broke the women's 1500m world record at the 50th Prefontaine Classic in the USA on July 5.
She clocked 3:48.68, shaving 0.36 seconds from the world record she set at the Paris Diamond League last year.
The triple Olympic champion has now broken three 1500m world records and is eyeing her fourth world title.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
