Women’s Marathon World Record Holder Provisionally Suspended for Doping Violation

Ruth Chepngetich, the women’s marathon world record holder, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for a banned substance.

The diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, was detected in a sample collected from Kenyan Chepngetich on March 14, the AIU said in a statement.

Chepngetich broke the world record to win the Chicago Marathon in October 2024, clocking a time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds.

HCTZ is used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension and is a prohibited at all times under the World Anti Doping Agency Code.

Chepngetich’s time in Chicago surpassed Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous record set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon by nearly two minutes.

Used commonly as a masking agent, HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre, ng/mL, in urine.

Chepngetich’s sample showed 3,800 ng/mL.

Chepngetich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification on April 16.

However, on April 19, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing.