Marathon Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Given 36-month Suspension

Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a sample taken from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

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

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

"No one is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."