New Delhi: Women’s marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended for a positive doping test. The news was confirmed by the track and field’s Athletics Integrity Unit headquartered in Monaco on Thursday.
As per a report published in news agency PTI, Chepngetich tested positive for a banned diuretic and masking agent in March this year and herself opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing, the investigators confirmed. Meanwhile, the AIU has not furnished any date or time for a disciplinary case.
Chepngetich suspended for using Hydrochlorothiazide
The runner from Kenya had earlier set the world record by almost two minutes at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024 in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds. The Athletics Integrity Unit, on July 17, took to their social media handle X to make the announcement where it was notified that she has been suspended for the presence and use of a prohibited substance named Hydrochlorothiazide.
The AIU has provisionally suspended Ruth Chepng’etich (Kenya) for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance (Hydrochlorothiazide). ⁰⁰Details here: https://t.co/lWC8sVtgCJ pic.twitter.com/PXh6pCGkh3
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) July 17, 2025
The runner was suspended following an investigation into the athlete’s positive test which was reported to the body in April this year and the estimated concentration was of 3800 ng/mL in urine. Presenting the case briefly, AIU Head Brett Clothier said that Chepngetich was notified and interviewed in person by the AIU in Kenya on April 16 and the runner complied with requests regarding the investigation.
‘When there is a positive test for diuretics and masking agents, a provisional suspension is not
mandatory under the World Anti-Doping Code. Chepngetich was not provisionally suspended
by the AIU at the time of notification, however, on April 19, she opted for a voluntary provisional
suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing,’ explained Clothier.