Ruth Chepngetich, the women's marathon world record-holder, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.
## What happened?
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced the suspension on Thursday, stating that Chepngetich's sample had an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL of Hydrochlorothiazide.
Chepngetich smashed the previous marathon record by almost two minutes with a time of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024.
## Why it matters for Ruth Chepngetich
The provisional suspension could have significant implications for Chepngetich's career, as Hydrochlorothiazide is prohibited at all times under the World Anti Doping Agency code.
The AIU Head, Brett Clothier, said the organization notified Chepngetich in person on April 16 and complied with requests regarding their investigation.
## What comes next?
Chepngetich has the right to have her case heard before a Disciplinary Tribunal, and the AIU will not comment further until this matter has been concluded.
Chepngetich is a three-time winner of the Chicago Marathon and took gold at the World Athletics Championships in 2019, with a notable performance on March 14, when the sample was collected.
The World Anti Doping Agency code considers Hydrochlorothiazide a “Specified Substance,” which carries a standard sanction of two years.
And according to the AIU statement, any levels of Hydrochlorothiazide below 20 ng/mL in urine are reported as negative.
But Chepngetich’s sample exceeded this threshold, with a concentration of 3,800 ng/mL, as reported on April 3.
So the investigation is ongoing, with the AIU continuing to gather evidence and build a case against Chepngetich.
Chepngetich's representative has been contacted for comment, but no statement has been released yet.
The provisional suspension is a significant development in the case, and it remains to be seen how it will affect Chepngetich's future in the sport.