Ruth Chepng'etich: World marathon record holder faces 3 year ban for doping violation

World marathon record-holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been provisionally suspended and banned for three years after admitting to a doping violation involving the use of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a prohibited diuretic, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced.

According to the AIU, the banned substance was detected in a sample collected from Chepng’etich on March 14, 2025, during an out-of-competition test.

Laboratory analysis revealed a concentration of 3,800 ng/mL of HCTZ in her urine, well above the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reporting threshold of 20 ng/mL.

Initially, the AIU did not impose an automatic provisional suspension, as diuretics and masking agents fall under a category where such measures are not mandatory under the World Anti-Doping Code.

However, on April 19, Chepng’etich voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension while the investigation continued.

AIU head Brett Clothier confirmed the detection and provisional sanction, noting that the athlete has since admitted to the violation.

HCTZ, commonly prescribed for fluid retention and high blood pressure, is banned because it can be used to mask the presence of other performance-enhancing substances.

Chepng’etich told investigators she had mistakenly taken her housemaid’s medication, an explanation the AIU said demonstrated “recklessness”, which under anti-doping rules is treated as indirect intent, attracting a potential four-year ban.

“She stated that she had forgotten to disclose this incident to the AIU investigators,” the Unit reported. “She later sent a photo of the medication blister pack clearly labeled as ‘hydrochlorothiazide.’”

Because Chepng’etich accepted the proposed sanction within 20 days, her suspension was reduced from four years to three years.

While the HCTZ case has been officially closed, the AIU revealed that it is continuing to investigate other material recovered from Chepng’etich’s phone for possible additional violations.

AIU Chair David Howman emphasized that the case reinforces the organization’s zero-tolerance stance.

“This underlines that nobody is above the rules,” he said. “Integrity remains the foundation of our sport.”

Chepng’etich, a two-time Chicago Marathon champion and former world champion, now joins a growing list of top Kenyan athletes facing doping sanctions. a trend that continues to challenge the nation’s distance-running legacy.