Marathon Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Handed 36-month Ban

Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the runner admitted to doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

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

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, honors, titles, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their events."