Marathon Record Holder Chepngetich Receives 36-month Suspension

Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner confessed to doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

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

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, honors, championships, appearance and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."