Ruth Chepngetich’s record-breaking run is now under scrutiny after a doping-related suspension. Image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images.
(The Post News)– Kenyan marathon runner Ruth Chepngetich, who stunned the world with a record-breaking performance last year, has been provisionally suspended for suspected doping, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Chepngetich set a new women’s marathon world record in Chicago last October, clocking 2:09:56. However, a routine test on 14 March this year revealed the presence of hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic often used to mask other substances.
While the World Anti-Doping Code doesn’t require immediate suspension for this type of result, AIU head Brett Clothier said the investigation has since progressed. Although Chepngetich was not initially suspended, she chose to take a voluntary break from competition on 19 April as the probe continued.
Now, the AIU has formally charged her and issued its suspension while the case is heard by a disciplinary panel. In April, Chepngetich pulled out of the London Marathon, citing that she wasn’t in the right mental or physical shape to compete at her best.
Hydrochlorothiazide is typically used to treat high blood pressure and water retention, but it’s banned in sports due to its potential use in hiding other performance-enhancing drugs.
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