Chepngetich retains women's marathon world record despite three-year ban

"Kenya's women's marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich was banned for three years on Thursday after she admitted to anti-doping rule violations, but her 2:09:56 mark will remain on the books as it was set before her positive test. Chepngetich, who smashed the record in Chicago last October, was provisionally suspended in July this year by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) was detected in a urine sample collected from the athlete on March 14."

"The sample revealed an HCTZ concentration of 3,800ng/mL, far above the World Anti-Doping Agency's minimum reporting limit of 20ng/mL. Chepngetich, 31, initially denied any wrongdoing and could not explain the positive result despite an AIU investigation, which included analysis of her medications, supplements and phone data. However, on July 31, two weeks after Chepngetich was suspended, she changed her explanation, saying she had unknowingly taken her housemaid's medication, which contained HCTZ, while ill."

"HCTZ is used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension, with the AIU adding that diuretics may be abused to mask the presence in urine of other prohibited substances. The AIU said Chepngetich's actions were reckless and indirectly intentional rather than accidental, initially applying a four-year sanction. However, Chepngetich's early admission earned her a one-year reduction, resulting in a three-year ban issued on September 10."

Ruth Chepngetich was banned for three years after admitting anti-doping rule violations involving hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Her 2:09:56 marathon world record remains because it was set before the March 14 positive test. A urine sample collected on March 14 showed an HCTZ concentration of 3,800ng/mL, far above WADA's 20ng/mL reporting limit. Chepngetich initially denied wrongdoing and could not explain the result despite AIU analysis of medications, supplements and phone data. She later said she had unknowingly taken her housemaid's HCTZ-containing medication while ill and had failed to disclose that to investigators. The AIU judged the actions reckless and indirectly intentional, reducing an initial four-year sanction to three years for early admission. The AIU will continue examining suspicious material recovered from her phone.

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