Long-distance running Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Receives Three-Year Suspension

Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - including her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, awards, championships, participation and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their events."