Frontier Eye Desk
Monaco, France.
Kenyan marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after admitting to an anti-doping rule violation involving the banned diuretic Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Thursday.
The 31-year-old athlete, who made history in October 2024 by running the first sub-2:10 women’s marathon, tested positive for HCTZ — a prohibited masking agent used to conceal other performance-enhancing substances — in a urine sample collected on March 14, 2025. According to the AIU, the test revealed an estimated concentration of 3,800 nanograms per milliliter, nearly 190 times higher than the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reporting threshold of 20 ng/mL.
Chepngetich, a three-time Chicago Marathon champion and the 2019 World Champion in Doha, was provisionally suspended in July 2025 following the test result. The positive sample was collected just five days after she finished second at the Lisbon Half Marathon in 1:06:20.
During interviews with AIU investigators in April and July, Chepngetich initially denied any wrongdoing, saying she could not explain the result. But in a follow-up statement on July 31, she claimed she had mistakenly taken her housemaid’s HCTZ medication two days earlier after experiencing heat and a racing heartbeat.
Investigators rejected her account, calling it “hardly credible” and describing her actions as “reckless” and showing “indirect intent” under anti-doping rules.
While the violation initially carried a four-year suspension, her decision to admit the charge and accept the sanction within 20 days of being notified on August 22 earned her a one-year reduction.
The ban delivers a major blow to Chepngetich’s glittering career. In October 2024, she clocked 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon, smashing Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa’s previous world record (2:11:53) by nearly two minutes — a performance hailed as one of the greatest in women’s distance running. Her earlier victories at the 2021 and 2022 Chicago Marathons and the 2019 World Championships remain unaffected, as the positive test occurred months after those results.
The AIU report also noted additional red flags in Chepngetich’s digital records, including WhatsApp screenshots referencing testosterone and messages discussing “programs” possibly linked to doping as far back as 2022. While she denied any connection, claiming she “accidentally took screenshots,” AIU head Brett Clothier said the organization would continue investigating potential further violations.
“The AIU remains resolute in its mission to protect clean athletes and preserve the integrity of the sport. This case demonstrates our thorough approach, regardless of an athlete’s status,” Clothier said.
Hydrochlorothiazide, commonly known as a “water pill,” is a prescription drug for hypertension and fluid retention. It is banned by WADA due to its diuretic properties, which can dilute urine and mask the presence of performance-enhancing drugs. Experts noted that the high concentration detected in Chepngetich’s sample ruled out the possibility of contamination or accidental low-level exposure.
The ruling adds to a growing list of doping scandals involving Kenyan athletes. Kenya has been under Category A monitoring by the AIU since 2016 — the highest level of scrutiny — following numerous violations by elite runners, including former world champion Asbel Kiprop and marathoner Jemimah Chelimo.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed disappointment at the development, reiterating the sport’s zero-tolerance stance on doping.
“Ruth’s case is deeply saddening, but it reinforces our commitment to clean competition. No athlete, regardless of fame or record, is above the rules,” Coe said.
Chepngetich’s ban takes effect retroactively from July 11, 2025, meaning she will be eligible to return to competition in July 2028 — missing out on the Paris 2025 World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.