Women’s marathon world record-holder Chepngetich handed three-year doping ban | Marathon

Women’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the Athletics Integrity Unit rejected her claim that her drug test failure came from taking her housekeeper’s medication after feeling hot and having a rapid heartbeat at rest.

The Kenyan stunned the world when she ran 2 hours 9 minutes 56 seconds at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, a time that shattered the previous record by almost two minutes. However, his performance was immediately questioned by many in the athletics world, believing it was too good to be true.

But even though the 31-year-old won’t be able to race again until 2028, she will be allowed to keep her world record because her positive doping test came after her race in Chicago. This will leave a bitter taste in many people’s mouths. However, IAU president David Howman insisted the case proved “no one is above the rules”.

“While disappointing for those who trust this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work,” he added.

Chepngetich was due to compete in this year’s London Marathon, but withdrew days before after a urine test in March revealed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL of the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in her system – well above the legal limit of 20 ng/mL.

Diuretics can be abused to mask the presence of other banned substances in the urine. However, when questioned by AIU investigators in April, Chepngetich was unable to provide an explanation for her positive test.

In a subsequent interview in July, the AIU said it then confronted her with evidence obtained from her cellphone indicating reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional.

Shortly afterwards, Chepngetich wrote to the AIU to say that she now remembered that she had fallen ill two days before the positive test – but had forgotten to mention it.

“She claimed that she had experienced symptoms of sweating, weakness and tachycardia and, knowing that her housekeeper had similar symptoms, she asked her what medications she was taking,” the AIU investigation said.

Investigators found the claims “not credible” and requested that his potential suspension be increased from two to four years. Chepngetich then admitted that she had committed an anti-doping rule violation and was suspended for three years.

But that may not be the end of the problem. The AIU said it found screenshots on Chepngetich’s phone of testosterone, a banned drug, as well as “messages related to unidentified third parties working on ‘programs’ possibly linked to doping.” “The case of the positive HCTZ test has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious documents recovered from Chepngetich’s phone to determine whether other violations occurred,” said AIU head Brett Clothier.

“In the meantime, all Chepngnetich achievements and records prior to the March 14, 2025 sample stand.”