Marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich provisionally suspended over banned substance
Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women's marathon record in Chicago in October 2024, becoming the first woman to break two hours, 10 minutes.
LONDON - Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for the presence and use of the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
The substance, a diuretic, was detected in a sample collected from the Kenyan athlete on March 14, the AIU said in a statement on July 17.
'Chepngetich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification. However, on April 19, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU's investigation was ongoing,' said AIU head Brett Clothier.
'In the intervening months, the AIU continued its investigation and today issued a notice of charge and imposed its own provisional suspension.'
The AIU said HCTZ is used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension, adding that diuretics may be abused to mask the presence in urine of other prohibited substances.
Chepngetich smashed the women's marathon record in Chicago in October 2024, running two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds to become the first woman to break 2:10.
Chepngetich's agent did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho
Asia Air India probe into Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues
Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore
Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment
Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes
Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
In April, Chepngetich withdrew from the London Marathon, saying at the time she was 'not in the right place mentally or physically' to race her best.
Marathon running has been hit with a spate of high-profile doping cases in recent years, particularly from Kenya which is world renowned for its middle and long-distance runners.
In April 2023, Athletics Kenya said its government pledged US$5 million (S$6.4 million) a year for five years to fight doping in athletics.
In February 2024, Kenya's Sarah Chepchirchir was hit with an eight-year ban after the former Tokyo Marathon winner was found to have violated anti-doping regulations for a second time.
A year later, Kenyan marathon runner Brimin Kipkorir was also provisionally suspended by the AIU after he tested positive for prohibited substances. REUTERS
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Hunger must never be ‘weapon of war': UN chief
Find out what's new on ST website and app. UN chief Antonio Guterres urged the international community to reject hunger as a weapon of war. ADDIS ABABA - United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged the international community on July 28 to reject hunger as a weapon of war. UN agencies have been warning of life-threatening hunger in Gaza as aid supplies dried up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation. Israel's government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, furiously denies that it is using hunger as a weapon of war, and instead accuses the aid agencies of failing to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza's border crossing points. 'Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains, and humanitarian aid. Conflict continues to spread hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond,' Mr Guterres told a UN conference in Ethiopia by video. 'Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war,' the UN chief added said. In the Gaza Strip, the war-shattered Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May. Since the easing of the blockade, the levels of aid reaching Gaza have been far below what aid groups say is needed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Asia Cambodia says immediate ceasefire is purpose of talks; Thailand questions its sincerity Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning On July 27, as Israel began a 'tactical pause' in the fighting to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis, the World Health Organisation warned that malnutrition was reaching 'alarming levels.' Sudan is 'the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered', Mr Othman Belbeisi, the regional director of UN's IOM migration agency, told reporters last week. Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people. AFP

Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
France's long wait for a Tour de France winner goes on, but Bernard Thevenet sees hope
Find out what's new on ST website and app. (From left) France's Minister for Sports, Youth, and Community Life Marie Barsacq watches as former French cyclist Bernard Thevenet recieves an award from general director of the Tour de France Christian Prudhomme on July 27. PARIS – After a superb Tour de France raced entirely on French soil, there is plenty for the host nation to cheer about but the absence of a French winner remains a national sore point. It is 40 years since Bernard Hinault won the last of his five Tours de France. Since then, the host nation has waited – not always patiently – for a successor. But 2025 has produced some cheer for the home fans as they look ahead. It is true that none of the five French teams on the roster landed either a stage win or a place on the final podium but Valentin Paret-Peintre produced some heroics to grab a memorable stage win on Mont Ventoux. On top of that, Kevin Vauquelin and Jordan Jegat both finished in the top 10, while Vauquelin and Lenny Martinez, just 22, wore the white and polka dot jerseys – for best under-26 rider and best climber respectively – for spells. It does not hide the lack of a winner but it was enough to make former French champion Bernard Thevenet guardedly positive about future home ambitions. Thevenet, who won the world's greatest bicycle race in 1975 and 1977, told AFP during the 2025 contest – won superbly by the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar for the fourth time – that the emerging riders were about to join the top table. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning Singapore Singapore lion dance troupe retains title at Genting World championship Singapore SMRT reports unauthorised post on its X account, says investigation under way 'We have good riders in France, obviously not as superb as Tadej Pogacar, but this happens,' Thevenet said. 'We really thought Lenny Martinez might get the king of the mountains jersey, he gave us a bit of hope. But he couldn't take it all the way,' the 77-year-old added, a day after Pogacar took it off the French youngster. He also spoke of his joy at Paret-Peintre winning on Mont Ventoux. 'It was great to see him emerge like that, how he pulled that win off. He did well,' said Thevenet. Paret-Peintre himself said he had learned a winning mentality by joining a Belgian team. 'Belgium is more about classics than Grand Tours, so I learned this do-or-die attitude and it made the difference,' he said. Thevenet cautioned, however, that the young French riders on the Tour in 2025 will not be the ones who deliver France from its 40-year wait for a winner. 'The new generation are not on the same level as Romain Bardet or Thibaut Pinot,' he said of two recently retired climbers, who had the misfortune to be riding at the same time as four-time winner Chris Froome. 'And It will be a while before we get a win or someone on the podium,' he said. Thevenet, however, has seen two riders who he believes may be the ones to end the French famine. 'Paul Seixas is 18, he isn't here on the Tour but he will be. And within five years he'll be on the podium,' he said. 'There's also a great up-and-coming sprinter, Paul Magnier, and you can see him winning stages when he rides the Tour.' While Hinault's victory in 1985 was the last time France had a Tour winner, La Vie Claire were the last French team to win when American rider Greg LeMond secured his first title in 1986 – with his teammate Hinault in second. After 112 editions of the world's greatest bike race, France has garnered 36 overall wins from 21 cyclists, and remain top of the heap in that respect. Thevenet said French teams have a problem with financing, taxes and other reasons and cannot compete directly with Pogacar's state-funded UAE Team Emirates. But French outfit Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale have attracted a new partnership with a shipping company, which will give them a far bigger budget. 'This should level the playing field a bit,' said Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme. Thevenet's great French hope Seixas is on Decathlon's books and they are priming themselves for a tilt at the top. 'Our goal is to enter the top five and then the top three worldwide and to win the Tour de France by 2030,' said team boss Dominique Serieys. AFP

Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Israel says Gaza got 120 trucks of aid on day one of pause
Find out what's new on ST website and app. JERUSALEM - Israel said July 28 that more than 120 truckloads of food aid were distributed by the UN and aid agencies in the Gaza Strip on the first day of a promised limited break in fighting. On July 27, Israel declared a 'tactical pause' in military operations in part of Gaza and promised to open secure routes for aid, urging humanitarian groups to step up food distribution. 'Over 120 trucks were collected and distributed yesterday by the UN and international organisations,' said Cogat, an Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories. 'An additional 180 trucks entered Gaza and are now awaiting collection and distribution, along with hundreds of others still queued for UN pickup,' Cogat said in a post on X. Separately, Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have conducted parachute air drops of smaller quantities of aid. More than two million Palestinians live in Gaza and, before the eruption of the latest 21-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas, it took roughly 500 trucks per day of commercial trade and humanitarian aid to supply the territory. In recent weeks UN agencies have been warning of a life-threatening famine as aid supplies dry up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Asia Cambodia says immediate ceasefire is purpose of talks; Thailand questions its sincerity Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning Singapore Singapore lion dance troupe retains title at Genting World championship Israel's government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, furiously denies that it is using hunger as a weapon of war, and instead accuses the aid agencies of failing to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza's border crossing points. 'More consistent collection and distribution by UN agencies and international organisations equals more aid reaching those who need it most in Gaza,' Cogat said. AFP