World Marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich handed three-year ban for doping violation
Her suspension, which began on 19 April 2025, will run until April 2028, with all results recorded after 14 March 2025 disqualified.
Kenyan marathon star and world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a prohibited substance.
The suspension, which took effect on 19 April 2025, will run until April 2028. All her competitive results from 14 March 2025 have been disqualified.
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The 31-year-old athlete, who made history with a world record time of 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, admitted to anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) after testing positive for an estimated 3,800ng/mL of HCTZ—far exceeding the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) limit of 20ng/mL.
Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, is commonly misused to mask the presence of other banned substances, though it can also appear as a contaminant in legitimate medication. According to the AIU report, Chepng’etich initially “had no explanation for the positive result” when interviewed in April 2025.
Investigators collected and tested all supplements and medications in her possession, as well as data from her mobile phone. None of the supplements contained the banned substance.
Denied wrongdoing
When confronted with additional evidence in July, Chepng’etich continued to deny wrongdoing. However, on 31 July 2025, she changed her statement, admitting she had taken her housemaid’s medication while unwell two days before the test, without checking if it contained banned substances. The drug she provided a photo of was clearly labelled “Hydrochlorothiazide.”
The AIU described her explanation as “hardly credible,” concluding that her conduct amounted to recklessness, which under anti-doping rules is treated as indirect intent.
Although the standard ban for a specified substance is two years, the AIU extended it to four years due to her recklessness. However, since Chepng’etich admitted the charges early and accepted the proposed sanction within 20 days, the suspension was reduced by one year.
AIU Head Brett Clothier said that while the case had been resolved, investigations into suspicious material recovered from her phone were still ongoing.
“All Chepng’etich’s achievements and records pre-dating the 14 March 2025 sample stand,” Clothier confirmed.
AIU Chair David Howman underscored the importance of upholding integrity in athletics.
“Nobody is above the rules. While disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work.”
Chepng’etich, the 2019 World Marathon Champion and a three-time Chicago Marathon winner (2021, 2022, 2024), remains the first woman in history to run a marathon in under two hours and ten minutes.
Her fall from grace marks one of the most high-profile doping cases in Kenyan athletics history.
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