Marathon Record Holder Chepngetich Given 36-month Ban

Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been suspended for three years after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 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 admitted to the violations.

However, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 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."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."