AIU Bans World Marathon Record Holder Ruth Chepng’etich for Three Years
World marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been banned from competition for three years after admitting to violating anti-doping rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced.
Chepng’etich Tests Positive for Banned Substance
The AIU confirmed on Thursday, October 23, that the 31-year-old tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a prohibited diuretic, from a sample collected on March 14, 2025. Laboratory analysis showed the presence of the substance in her urine, leading to a full investigation.
“Women’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit after admitting to Anti-Doping Rule Violations regarding the use of Hydrochlorothiazide,” the AIU said in its statement.
What the AIU Found During Investigations
The AIU stated that HCTZ is sometimes misused by athletes to mask the presence of other banned substances. Although not entirely prohibited, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) limits the concentration levels allowed in athletes’ systems.
Chepng’etich was first interviewed in April 2025 but could not explain the positive result. Investigators seized supplements, medication, and her mobile phone for further analysis, but those samples tested negative for other substances.
In a second interview in July, evidence from her phone raised suspicions that the doping could have been intentional. However, Chepng’etich maintained her innocence throughout the process.
Athlete’s Defense and Reduced Sanction
The marathoner later claimed she had mistakenly taken her domestic manager’s medication two days before the test, unaware it contained a banned diuretic. The AIU dismissed this explanation as “reckless” and said it demonstrated indirect intent to dope.
Under standard anti-doping rules, such conduct warrants a four-year ban. However, since Chepng’etich admitted her violation early and accepted responsibility, the AIU reduced the sanction to three years.
Record-Breaking Achievements and Legacy
Chepng’etich rose to global fame after winning the Chicago Marathon three times consecutively and setting a new world marathon record of 2:09:57 in 2024. Her time broke the previous record of 2:11:53 held by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
The ban marks a significant setback for the decorated Kenyan athlete, who had become one of the most dominant figures in women’s long-distance running.
