🔗 Share this article

Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining evidence from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a test collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her domestic worker's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, honors, championships, appearance and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."