Women’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Thursday.
According to the AIU, the Kenyan long-distance star returned a positive result from a urine sample collected on 14 March, which was found to contain hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a diuretic often used to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The AIU said it was notified of the result on 3 April. Chepngetich, 30, voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension on 19 April while investigations continued. She was later interviewed in person in Kenya and “complied with requests regarding our investigation,” AIU head Brett Clothier confirmed in a statement.
No timeline has been given for the disciplinary proceedings.
Chepngetich made headlines last October when she shattered the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds, nearly two minutes faster than the previous mark. It was her third victory in Chicago.
She also claimed gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, where the women’s marathon was held at midnight to combat the desert heat.
The suspension casts a shadow over one of the most decorated female marathoners in recent years, with the AIU continuing its investigations into the doping violation.
BusinessDay