World Marathon Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Banned for Three Years Over Doping Violation
Kenyan marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng'etich has been banned for three years after testing positive for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic commonly used as a masking agent to hide the presence of other performance enhancing drugs. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed the decision following an investigation into a urine sample collected from the athlete on March 14, 2025.
Chepng'etich, who stunned the world with her record breaking run of 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, will now serve a suspension that runs until April 2028. The AIU initially sought a four year ban, but it was reduced to three after she accepted the charge and agreed not to challenge the ruling. Despite the ban, her world record remains valid because the failed test occurred months after the race.
In her defense, Chepng'etich claimed she had unknowingly taken hydrochlorothiazide after consuming medication that belonged to her housemaid when she fell ill. However, AIU investigators dismissed her explanation as implausible, citing inconsistencies in her account and evidence suggesting possible knowledge of the drug’s presence. The AIU also revealed that digital evidence recovered from her phone, including references to other banned substances such as testosterone, remains under review, indicating the possibility of further action.
Under World Athletics regulations, only results achieved after the date of the positive test are automatically disqualified unless there is clear evidence linking the violation to earlier performances. This means Chepng'etich’s world record of 2:09:56 still stands, a decision that has divided opinion in the athletics world. Some experts argue that maintaining the record damages the credibility of clean sport, while others insist that fairness requires adherence to existing anti doping rules.
The case adds to growing concern over doping in Kenya, a country long admired for its dominance in long distance running but increasingly tarnished by doping scandals. In recent years, more than 60 Kenyan athletes have faced suspensions for doping related offenses. The Kenyan government and Athletics Kenya have pledged to intensify testing and education campaigns, but the persistence of high profile cases like Chepng'etich’s highlights the ongoing challenge of eradicating the problem.
Chepng'etich’s suspension will keep her out of competition during what would have been the peak of her career, barring her from major races and potentially impacting her sponsorships. Her reputation, once defined by extraordinary athletic excellence, now faces scrutiny and doubt. While her name will remain in the record books for now, the doping scandal has cast a long shadow over her achievements. Whether history will remember Ruth Chepng'etich as a groundbreaking runner or as another fallen star in athletics’ ongoing fight against doping remains an open question.
