Who is Ruth Chepngetich? Marathon world record holder suspended by Athletics Integrity Unit for doping
The reason behind her suspension was testing positive for a banned substance. This development has sparked debate about her remarkable career and the integrity of elite marathon running.
Ruth Chepngetich, a 30-year-old Kenyan runner, is one of the most celebrated long-distance athletes of her generation.
In October 2024, she shattered the women's marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds, nearly two minutes faster than the previous record set by Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa. This marked her third Chicago Marathon victory, leaving her mark as a dominant force.
Chepngetich also won gold at the 2019 World Championships in Qatar, overcoming midnight heat to emerge victorious. Her achievements have made her a national hero in Kenya, a country renowned for its distance-running prowess, making her doping case all the more shocking.
The doping substance detected in Chepngetich's March 14, 2025, sample was Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a diuretic used medically to treat fluid retention and hypertension.
According to the AIU, the sample showed an HCTZ concentration of 3,800 ng/mL, far exceeding the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) 20 ng/mL reporting threshold.
HCTZ is prohibited in sports because it can act as a masking agent, increasing urine output to potentially dilute other banned substances, making them harder to detect.
While not performance-enhancing, its presence raises concerns about possible attempts to conceal other doping violations, prompting scrutiny of Ruth Chepngetich's recent performances.
Ruth Chepngetich was notified of the positive test on April 3 and voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension on April 19, halting her competitive activities.
'Chepngetich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification; however, on 19 April, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU's investigation was ongoing,' said AIU head Brett Clothier.
On July 17, the AIU issued a formal Notice of Charge and imposed its own suspension. However, Ruth Chepngetich has the right to appeal and present her case before a Disciplinary Tribunal, which will determine her penalty, potentially a two-year ban.
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