Long-distance running Champion Chepngetich Handed 36-month Ban

Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - including communications from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, awards, championships, appearance and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."