Table of Contents
- Ruth Chepngetich won the 2024 Chicago Marathon
- The Kenyan marathon champion made history by winning the Chicago Marathon on October 13, 2024
- She became the first woman to ever run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes
Celebrated Kenyan marathoner Ruth Chepngetich, and women’s world marathon record holder, is now provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.
Chepngetich tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), in a dramatic turn of events coming just months after her historic marathon performance at the Chicago Marathon.
The Kenyan marathon champion made history by winning the Chicago Marathon on October 13, 2024. She broke the women’s world record in 2:09:56.
She became the first female marathoner to ever run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Why was Ruth Chepngetich Suspended?
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) flagged a sample collected from her on March 14, 2025. Upon analysis, the sample was found to contain Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
Hydrochlorothiazide is classified as a diuretic under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. The concentration of the substance in her system was shockingly high, reportedly at 3800 ng/mL—almost 190 times above the minimum reporting threshold.
2024 Chicago Marathon winner Ruth Chepngetich. Photo/Sky News
While HCTZ itself isn’t a performance-enhancing drug, it is often used to mask the presence of other banned substances. WADA categorizes it as a “Specified Substance,” which means it’s prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition.
Ruth Chepngetich, 30, has had an illustrious career so far. She won gold at the 2019 World Championships and clinched three consecutive titles at the Chicago Marathon.
Most notably, she ran an astonishing 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon—becoming the first woman in history to run a marathon under 2:10.
That record-breaking performance earned her praise worldwide.
AIU Doping Tests
According to AIU, after the positive result, Chepngetich was formally notified and met with the anti-doping body in person on April 16 in Kenya.
She fully cooperated with the investigation, including attending interviews and complying with document requests.
While a provisional suspension is not automatically enforced for substances like diuretics, she chose to accept one voluntarily on April 19.
That move suggested that she might have anticipated further scrutiny or was perhaps mentally preparing for a legal battle ahead.
In the months that followed, the AIU continued their investigation. After reviewing the full evidence, they formally charged her and issued a binding provisional suspension on July 17, 2025.
This effectively bars her from all competitions and athletics-related activities while awaiting a final hearing and decision.
What is Hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide is generally prescribed to treat conditions like hypertension or water retention. However, in the context of athletics, it’s commonly misused to hide the presence of steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs during testing.
Kenyan marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich. Photo/NBC
Given its classification, the standard penalty for athletes caught with such a substance is a two-year ban. However, depending on the circumstances—such as intent, cooperation, or admission—the length of ineligibility can either be reduced or extended.
This case casts a long shadow over her legacy and adds to Kenya’s ongoing struggle with doping scandals in athletics.
Kenya remains under Category A on the WADA global watchlist, a category indicating it’s considered a high-risk doping zone. Dozens of Kenyan athletes have faced similar suspensions in recent years, eroding trust in the nation’s dominance in long-distance running.
Was Ruth Chepngetich Struggling?
Even before her provisional ban, there were subtle signs that something was off. Ruth Chepngetich had pulled out of the 2025 London Marathon in April, citing that she was not in the right mental or physical condition to race.
She had also mentioned during a media interview earlier this year that her training had not been going well, raising questions that now appear more telling.
