🔗 Share this article

Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the runner acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's punishment was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

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

"This matter regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, championships, participation and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."