🔗 Share this article

Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

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

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the anti-doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, honors, championships, appearance and prize money from 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

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