🔗 Share this article

Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the runner confessed to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned 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 occurred before that sample - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, championships, appearance and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their events."