Ruth Chepngetich, Kenyan road runner and current holder of women's world record in marathon, has been temporarily suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), after testing positive on test a banned substance.
The AIU announced on a statement on Thursday that they have found she had used hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension. Under the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) Code, it is a class S5 Prohibited Substance, and it is often abused to mask the presence in urine of other prohibited substances.
Chepngetich opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while investigation is ongoing. The 30-year-old Kenyan won the Chicago Marathon in 2021, 2022 and 2024, the world champion in 2019, and set a new world record in marathon of 2:09:56 in 2024. But she faces up to two years of suspension.