Sifan Hassan weighs in on Ruth Chepng'etich's doping ban

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan says it is sad and hard to weigh in on Ruth Chepngetich’s doping ban, but urged athletes to think of the long-term dangers of engaging in drug cheating.

Speaking in the build-up to her New York City Marathon debut set for Sunday, 2 November, Hassan struggled to find words to best describe her reaction to Kenyan marathon runner Chepng’etich getting a three-year ban from the sport after testing positive for a banned diuretic - Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

Kenyan marathon world record holder banned for three years over doping violation

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in a detailed statement on 23 October, announced that Chepng’etich, 31, had admitted to the anti-doping rule violation, but maintained that her world record time of 2:09.56 set in October 2024, still stood.

Responding to a question surrounding the suspension and the world marathon record time staying on the books, Sifan told LetsRundotcom: “It is really sad, it is pretty hard, I do not know what to say.

It is so hard for me to say about other athletes, and the only thing I know myself is that doping is for WADA to do their thing.”

Why Ruth Chepngetich’s case is still under investigation despite ban

On Chepngetich’s record time, Sifan, who admittedly learnt of the case after the media asked her coach about it recently, said: “Yesterday I was at the doping class and they said they did not find anything after the Chicago race, so it is hard for me to say anything about it.”

Turning around to other athletes, Sifan, who served under Alberto Salazar during her track career, said that doping carried bigger dangers than just running fast.

“Doping also destroys your life," she said. “They (athletes) can die from it. They can die immediately or in the future, or could have a lot of problems."

Prioritising long-term thinking among athletes over quick gains, she added: “Also, when people do drugs, the sad thing is they do not have long careers. Because once you start the substance, the body asks more, and just after a couple of years they retire. It is so sad.”

The Dutchwoman further told young athletes to know the dangers of doping, before rushing to get advantage over other athletes.

“Of course you are going to get success, but is it better than being in a long career? Is it better to just work harder and keep up for 10 years? That is way better I think," she said.

“That is what I want to tell young people. Do not only think that I am going to get an advantage, it is also going to hurt you so badly. It is going to cost your life.”