Ruth Chepngetich: Marathon record holder given three-year ban for doping violation

Women’s marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after testing positive for a prohibited substance earlier this year, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Thursday.

Chepngetich tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a diuretic used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension, in a sample collected on March 14 and later accepted a provisional suspension.

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, diuretics like HCTZ can be used to flush previously taken prohibited substances out of an athlete’s system.

The three-year ban, which was reduced from four years after Chepngetich admitted to the doping violation, means…