Athletic ace Chepngetich faces suspension
Ruth Chepngetich, the acclaimed marathon world record-holder, has found herself in a precarious position after testing positive for the banned diuretic Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in a urine sample collected on March 14, 2025. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the independent integrity agency of the world athletics governing body, made the announcement.
The amount detected was extremely high, approximately 3800 ng/mL, which is nearly 200 times the reporting threshold for this substance[1][3]. The elevated level has raised concerns, as HCTZ is often used to mask other prohibited substances in urine.
Chepngetich was notified of the positive test on April 16, and she cooperated with the investigation. While a provisional suspension is not automatically required under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code for diuretics and masking agents, she chose to voluntarily accept it starting April 19, 2025.
This decision led to her withdrawal from the 2025 London Marathon, where she was set to compete. She cited mental and physical reasons for her withdrawal, focusing instead on the ongoing investigation and recovery[1][3][4].
In recent years, other prominent Kenyan runners have faced similar suspensions. Two-time Frankfurt Marathon winner Brimin Misoi Kipkorir and former half marathon world record holder Kibiwott Kandie are among those who have been suspended[5].
However, at the time of this report, no recent cases of Kenyan athletes being suspended or implicated in doping cases have been reported[1][2][3][4].
Chepngetich's case has drawn significant attention given her status as a world record-holder and her rapid rise in marathon running. She caused a stir last October when she became the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier for the marathon[6]. In 2021, she won the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:09:56, marking her third victory in Chicago[7].
The AIU is currently conducting a thorough investigation into Chepngetich's case, and further updates are expected to be released in due course.
The high detection of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in Ruth Chepngetich's sample, which is nearly 200 times the reporting threshold, suggests that she might have used this diuretic to mask other prohibited substances in her urine, as it is often employed for such purposes. Despite voluntarily accepting a provisional suspension after being notified of the positive test, Chepngetich's case has resulted in her withdrawal from the 2025 London Marathon, where she was set to compete, due to mental and physical reasons.
