Ruth Chepng’etich, the women’s marathon world record holder, has been banned for three years after admitting to an anti-doping rule violation. The 31-year-old Kenyan tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in a sample provided on 14 March 2025.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced the ban on Thursday, stating that Chepng’etich accepted the charges and sanction. HCTZ is a banned substance that can be used to mask other performance-enhancing drugs. The AIU noted that the concentration found in her sample was 3800ng/mL, far above the minimum reporting limit of 20ng/mL.
Chepng’etich set the world record of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in 2024. She has been provisionally suspended since July 2025, and her ban will run until July 2028. However, her previous records and achievements, including her world record, will remain valid.
AIU Chair David Howman stated that the case demonstrates “nobody is above the rules”. Chepng’etich is a former world marathon champion and three-time winner of the Chicago Marathon.
