Athlete temporarily banned from marathon events due to positive drugs test results.
Ruth Chepngetich, the marathon world record holder, has found herself under scrutiny following a provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to a positive doping test. The Kenyan athlete tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a banned diuretic, on March 14, 2025.
The AIU notified Chepngetich of the positive test on April 16, and she requested a voluntary provisional suspension on April 19 to allow for further investigation. Since setting the world record at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, Chepngetich has competed only once, finishing second at the Lisbon Half-Marathon on March 9, 2025. She withdrew from the TCS London Marathon on April 27, citing mental and physical unpreparedness.
The AIU has further investigated the case and imposed a provisional suspension on Chepngetich. The future of her athletics career is uncertain, as the AIU has not announced a timetable for a disciplinary case.
It is worth noting that the suspensions of Brimin Misoi Kipkorir and Kibiwott Kandie, two other prominent Kenyan runners, do not appear to be related to the current case involving Chepngetich. The details of their suspensions, such as the date, the substance involved, and the duration of the suspension, were not provided in the article.
The permitted limit for HCTZ was significantly exceeded in Chepngetich's case, leading to her suspension. This development comes at a time when several prominent Kenyan runners, including Brimin Misoi Kipkorir and Kibiwott Kandie, have been suspended in recent years.
The suspensions of Brimin Misoi Kipkorir and Kibiwott Kandie, however, did not involve the use of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Kibiwott Kandie, who used to hold the half-marathon world record, and Brimin Misoi Kipkorir, a two-time Frankfurt Marathon winner, have faced suspensions, but these incidents do not seem to be related to the investigation by the AIU.
Chepngetich made history last October by becoming the first woman to break the 2:10 hour barrier in a marathon. Her suspension could potentially lead to a ban, but the outcome of the ongoing investigation will determine her future in athletics.
[1] https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1115243/kenyan-marathon-world-record-holder-ruth-chepngetich-provisionally-suspended-over-doping-test [2] https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/60918357 [3] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/kenyas-chepngetich-provisionally-suspended-over-doping-positive-2025-04-21/ [4] https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/athletics/ruth-chepngetich-withdraws-from-london-marathon-after-doping-positive-a4733041.html [5] https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics/ruth-chepngetich-marathon-world-record-doping-b2082209.html
The Commission, having been consulted on the draft directive concerning doping in sports, may view this incident involving Chepngetich as a critical case for altering regulations to ensure fair competition in athletics. The AIU's decision to suspend Chepngetich is a further reminder of the necessary vigilance in professional sports to maintain the integrity and credibility of their events.
