🔗 Share this article

Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a four-year ban but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

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

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, honors, championships, participation and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."