🔗 Share this article

Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the runner acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's device to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

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

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, appearance and earnings since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their events."