Long-distance running Champion Ruth Chepngetich Receives Three-Year Suspension

Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a test collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

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

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the anti-doping breaches within the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, honors, titles, participation and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."