Kenya’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has received a three-year ban for a doping violation. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed the sanction on Thursday....Click to Read More >>➤

The 31-year-old athlete tested positive for the prohibited diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in a sample collected in March. She had been under a provisional suspension since July. Chepngetich is a former world marathon champion and a three-time Chicago Marathon winner.

AIU chair David Howman stated the case demonstrates that “nobody is above the rules.” The Kenyan runner accepted the charges and the resulting sanction.

The test, conducted on March 14, revealed a stunning result. Chepngetich’s urine sample contained 190 times the allowable limit for HCTZ.

Initial Denial and Changing Story

Initially, the athlete denied any knowledge of ingesting the substance. She maintained she had never doped and could not explain the positive finding.

She later altered her explanation. Chepngetich claimed she had taken her “housemaid’s medication” after falling ill two days before the test. She said she had failed to disclose this incident to investigators earlier.

The AIU found this new account “to be hardly credible.” The organization remains vigilant in its investigation.

Ongoing Investigations and Legacy

AIU head Brett Clothier confirmed the resolution of the HCTZ case. However, he noted the investigation continues. “The AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich’s phone to determine if any other violations have occurred,” Clothier said.

All of Chepngetich’s achievements prior to the March 14, 2025, sample remain valid. This includes her current women’s world record of 2:09:56, set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. She was the first woman to break both the 2:11 and 2:10 barriers in the marathon.

Kenya’s Persistent Doping Challenge

This ban places Chepngetich among a long list of banned Kenyan athletes. The nation has faced significant scrutiny over doping, with high-profile cases like 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong.

Since 2017, the AIU has suspended at least 140 Kenyan runners—the highest number from any single country. This latest high-profile doping case underscores the persistent challenge.

In response to past scandals, Kenya invested millions to combat doping. However, the government cut funding for its anti-doping agency by nearly half last year amid national budget protests.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently acknowledged Kenya’s “significant and demonstrable progress” toward cleaning up its systems. This recognition delayed a threatened non-compliance order. Despite this, Chepngetich’s case shows the fight against doping is far from over. ...Click to Read More >>➤