Marathon Champion Chepngetich Given Three-Year Ban

Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the runner admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned 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 reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

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

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, participation and earnings from March 14 lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."