Kenyan long-distance running sensation Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended for a doping violation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Wednesday. The 30-year-old, who made global headlines by smashing the women’s marathon world record in 2023, tested positive for a banned diuretic and masking agent.
The positive sample was collected on March 14, but the suspension comes just days after Chepngetich finished second at the Lisbon Half Marathon. In response to the findings, she has accepted a voluntary provisional suspension as the AIU’s investigation continues.
Chepngetich set the current women’s marathon world record on October 13, 2023, at the Chicago Marathon, completing the race in a groundbreaking time of 2:09:55. The performance made her the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier, eclipsing the previous record of 2:11:53 set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa in Berlin just weeks earlier.
A statement from the AIU confirmed the detection of a prohibited substance classified both as a diuretic and masking agent, which can be used to conceal the presence of other performance-enhancing drugs.
This development marks a significant blow to Chepngetich’s illustrious career, as she now awaits the outcome of the disciplinary process that could result in further sanctions.
The case adds to ongoing concerns about doping in elite athletics, particularly within long-distance events, and underscores the AIU’s commitment to ensuring clean competition at the highest level.
