Why It Matters
Ruth Chepngetich, one of the most prominent figures in distance running and the current marathon world record holder, has been provisionally suspended for a doping related violation by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which oversees doping related offences for World Athletics.
Last October at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, the Kenyan smashed the world record, running 2:09:56, lowering the mark by nearly two minutes. Chepngetich is the only woman to have run under both 2:11 and 2:10.
Her suspension raises new concerns about doping in elite distance running, and instantly casts a significant shadow over the veracity of high level performances in the marathon. This also comes in the wake of several recent doping suspensions in her home country of Kenya, which is both the epicentre of global elite distance running, and of a doping epidemic.
What’s Happening
- The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Thursday (July 17) that it has provisionally suspended Ruth Chepngetich for the use of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a banned diuretic often used as a masking agent.
- The positive test came from a sample collected March 14, 2025.
- The concentration of HCTZ detected was 3,800 ng/mL, far above the World Anti-Doping Agency’s reporting threshold of 20 ng/mL.
- Chepngetich voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension on April 19, following an in-person interview by AIU officials in Kenya.
The Details
- HCTZ is listed under the WADA Code as a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents.
- Although the presence of such substances doesn’t mandate an immediate suspension, Chepngetich has voluntarily accepted a provisional ban while the investigation is ongoing.
- The standard sanction for use of a Specified Substance is two years of ineligibility, although this can be adjusted depending on the outcome of her case.
What’s Next
- Chepngetich has been issued a Notice of Charge and retains the right to a hearing before a Disciplinary Tribunal.
- The AIU stated it will not comment further while the case is ongoing.
The Bigger Picture
- This development follows a series of recent doping investigations involving Kenyan athletes.
- The case comes at a time when World Athletics and AIU are increasing scrutiny ahead of major events like the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo and the 2028 L.A. Olympic cycle.
- Chepngetich’s suspension may have ripple effects for Kenya’s women’s marathon team selection and reputation on the global stage.
