Long-distance running Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Given 36-month Ban

Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - including her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."