Marathon world record holder suspended for 3 years sports

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Thursday the suspension of the 3-year-old women’s marathon world record holder, Kenyan Ruth Chepengetich, after she admitted to violating anti-doping rules.

The unit said in a statement: “The women’s marathon world record holder, Ruth Chepngetich, was suspended for 3 years by her after she admitted to violations of anti-doping rules related to the presence and use of hydrochlorothiazide.”

She added: “The 31-year-old Kenyan, a former world marathon champion and three-time winner of the Chicago Marathon, accepted the charges and punishment after a sample tested positive for the banned diuretic on March 14 this year, and after an investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit subsequently conducted it.”

The unit continued: “While it is known that athletes misuse diuretics to mask the presence of other banned substances in their urine, hydrochlorothiazide has also been identified as a potential contaminant in pharmaceutical products.”

It stated that Chepngitich’s actions were reckless and intentional, indirectly and not accidental, and initially decided to suspend her for 4 years.

However, her early confession led to her sentence being reduced by one year, resulting in a 3-year ban.

Brett Cloutier, head of the unit, said: “The case regarding the positive test for hydrochlorothiazide has been resolved, but the Athletics Integrity Unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material obtained from Chepngitich’s phone, to determine whether any further violations occurred.

Chepngitich’s achievements that preceded that sample – including her world record time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds – will still be in Chicago in October 2024, the first runner to go under the 2 hours and 10 minutes mark.

Last April, Chepngitich withdrew from the London Marathon, saying that she was not in the appropriate mental or psychological state to give her best, but in fact she chose a voluntary temporary suspension at that time.

The Kenyan has to her credit the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, in addition to victories in the Chicago Marathon (2021, 2022, and 2024).