World marathon record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Thursday.
The Kenyan athlete, 30, returned a positive result for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a diuretic known to act as a masking agent for performance-enhancing drugs. The prohibited substance was detected in a urine sample collected on March 14, with the AIU being notified of the result on April 3.
HCTZ, often used to treat high blood pressure, works by flushing excess water and salt from the body. In the context of doping, it can obscure the presence of steroids and other banned substances by diluting the urine, making detection more difficult.
Chepngetich voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension on 19 April, according to the AIU. The body stated that she complied fully with its ongoing investigation, including submitting to an in-person interview in Kenya in April.
“Ms Chepngetich has cooperated with the investigation and has voluntarily agreed to be provisionally suspended while proceedings continue,” said AIU head Brett Clothier in a statement.
No timeline has been provided for the conclusion of the disciplinary case. If found guilty of a doping violation, Chepngetich could face a lengthy ban from competition and the annulment of recent results, including her world record.
Chepngetich made headlines last October when she shattered the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, completing the race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds — a mark that improved the previous record by nearly two minutes.
Her impressive career also includes a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, where she won the marathon under extreme heat conditions in a midnight race.
This case adds to the growing list of doping-related suspensions involving high-profile Kenyan athletes, a concern that has prompted increased scrutiny of the country’s athletics system by global anti-doping authorities.
Chepngetich, widely regarded as one of the world’s top endurance runners, has not yet commented publicly on the allegations.
Editing by M10News Sports Desk | Contact: info@m10news.com
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