The reigning world marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been handed three years ban after admitting doping allegations.
The three time Chicago marathon winner said in her admission that she took her house girl’s medication that contained a banned substance and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) handed her three years instead of four.
The former world marathon champion was found to have used Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) which is a masking agent.
In her sample from March 2025, the Fastest marathoner with 2:09.56 and AIU said her new explanation was “hardly credible” and described her action as recklessness amounting to indirect intent, which carries a standard four-year ban.
Since she admitted the charge within 20 days on September 10, 2025 the ban was reduced to three years.
The disqualification applies from March 14, 2025, meaning her world marathon record still stands.