Chepngetich smashed the marathon world document in Chicago final October and was provisionally suspended for doping in July.
Kenya’s ladies’s marathon world document holder Ruth Chepngetich was banned for 3 years on Thursday after she admitted to anti-doping rule violations, however her 2:09:56 mark will stay on the books because it was set earlier than her optimistic take a look at.
Chepngetich, who smashed the document in Chicago final October, was provisionally suspended in July this yr by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) was detected in a urine pattern collected from the athlete on March 14.
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The pattern revealed an HCTZ focus of three,800ng/mL, far above the World Anti-Doping Company’s minimal reporting restrict of 20ng/mL.
Chepngetich, 31, initially denied any wrongdoing and couldn’t clarify the optimistic outcome regardless of an AIU investigation, which included evaluation of her drugs, dietary supplements and cellphone knowledge.
Chepngetich modifications clarification for optimistic take a look at
Nevertheless, on July 31, two weeks after Chepngetich was suspended, she modified her clarification, saying she had unknowingly taken her housemaid’s remedy, which contained HCTZ, whereas in poor health.
“She acknowledged that she had forgotten to reveal this incident to the AIU investigators,” the AIU mentioned in a press release.
HCTZ is used clinically to deal with fluid retention and hypertension, with the AIU including that diuretics could also be abused to masks the presence in urine of different prohibited substances.
The AIU mentioned Chepngetich’s actions have been reckless and not directly intentional fairly than unintended, initially making use of a four-year sanction.
Nevertheless, Chepngetich’s early admission earned her a one-year discount, leading to a three-year ban issued on September 10.
“The case concerning the optimistic take a look at for HCTZ has been resolved, however the AIU will proceed to research the suspicious materials recovered from Chepngetich’s cellphone to find out if some other violations have occurred,” AIU head Brett Clothier mentioned.
“Within the meantime, all Chepngetich’s achievements and information pre-dating the 14 March 2025 pattern stand.”
Reuters has contacted Chepngetich’s consultant for remark.
Excessive-profile doping circumstances
In April, Chepngetich had withdrawn from the London Marathon, saying she was “not in the best place mentally or bodily” to run her finest. However she had really opted for a voluntary provisional suspension on the time.
Marathon working has been hit with a spate of high-profile doping circumstances lately, notably from Kenya, which is world-renowned for its center and long-distance runners.
In November 2022, the middle- and long-distance working powerhouse prevented a ban regardless of an rising variety of its athletes being suspended for optimistic assessments.
Athletics Kenya had mentioned its authorities pledged $5m per yr for 5 years to combat doping in athletics.
In February 2024, Kenya’s Sarah Chepchirchir was hit with an eight-year ban after the previous Tokyo Marathon winner was discovered to have violated anti-doping rules for a second time when she returned an antagonistic analytical discovering for testosterone.
Earlier this yr, Kenyan marathon runner Brimin Kipkorir – who gained the Sydney Marathon in 2024 in a course document time – was additionally provisionally suspended by the AIU after he examined optimistic for prohibited substances.
