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Long-distance running Champion Ruth Chepngetich Given 36-month Ban
The Kenyan runner broke the previous Tigst Assefa's women's marathon global best by about 120 seconds at the marathon event in Chicago in 2024.
Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.
The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.
Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.
The sports governing body had sought a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the violations.
Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to 2022.
"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."
'No one is exempt from regulations'
When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.
Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.
Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test taken from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.
At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.
The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.
The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".
An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.
The three-year ban started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, championships, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.
"No one is above the rules."
"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."
"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."
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