The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said in a statement that Ruth Chepngetich, the world record holder for the women’s marathon, has been placed on provisional suspension following a positive test for a prohibited substance.
At the Chicago Marathon in October 2024, the Kenyan runner became the first woman in history to break the 2:10 barrier with a time of 2:09:56, shattering the previous record by nearly two minutes.
The 30-year-old’s sample was taken on March 14 and reported to the AIU on April 3 after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic used therapeutically to treat fluid retention and hypertension, according to an AIU statement.
Urine containing less than 20 ng/mL of hydrochlorothiazide is considered negative. The estimated concentration in Chepngetich’s sample was 3,800 ng/mL.
According to the World Anti Doping Agency’s rule, hydrochlorothiazide is always forbidden and is classified as a “Specified Substance,” carrying a two-year standard sentence.
AIU Head Brett Clothier said in the statement that the agency “complied with requests regarding our investigation” and personally informed Chepngetich on April 16.
Chepng’etich was not placed on provisional suspension by the AIU at the time of notification, but on April 19, she chose to do so voluntarily while the AIU’s inquiry was still underway, Clothier continued.
“In the intervening months, the AIU continued its investigation and (Thursday) issued a Notice of Charge and imposed its own provisional suspension.”
“Chepngetich has the right for her case to be heard before a Disciplinary Tribunal and that the AIU will not comment further until this matter has been concluded,” the statement concluded.
Chepngetich is a three-time winner of the Chicago Marathon and took gold at the World Athletics Championships in 2019.