Why Ruth Chepngetich’s case is still under investigation despite ban
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 24.10.25. | 12:00
Messages tracing back to 2022 could expose a much bigger
Ruth Chepngetich, the women’s world marathon record-holder, might have been banned for three years after an investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), but that decision could take a different turn as investigations are still on.
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The 31-year-old Kenyan, who won last year's Chicago Marathon in a record-breaking 2:09:56, tested positive for the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on 14 March.
On 22 August 2025, the AIU issued Chepngetich with a Notice of Charge seeking a four-year sanction. The 2019 world marathon champion admitted the ADRVs and, since she accepted the proposed sanction within 20 days on 10 September 2025, she was granted an automatic one-year reduction of the four years due to the Early Admission and Acceptance of Sanction.
However, investigations are still ongoing with AIU confirming that Chepngetich’s phone data is under scrutiny.
“The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepng’etich’s phone to determine if any other violations have occurred. In the meantime, all Chepng’etich’s achievements and records pre-dating the 14 March 2025 sample stand,” said AIU Head Brett Clothier.
Reports indicate that part of the material being investigated is a screenshot of a WhatsApp message she received from another athlete showing pictures of two testosterone vials, along with a message asking how testosterone ‘works’. The text was from 14 April 2024, which is before she went on to break the marathon world record on Sunday, 13 October 2024.
The sender of the message was another athlete known to Chepngetich, with whom she corresponded regularly.
Additionally, messages from 2022, 2023, and 2025 about people working on ‘programs’ that could be related to doping, and a photo, from 29 April 2024, showing a vial and a box of Anavar, which is another banned steroid, are under investigation.
In her explanation, Chepngetich said she never asked for or responded to the testosterone message and might have taken the screenshot by accident. She also said the other messages were random, possibly from group chats or things forwarded to her without her asking.
As for the Anavar image, she said it might have been automatically saved from a group chat, and she didn’t search for it herself.
As the investigations continue, WADA and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) have a right of appeal against this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, in accordance with the procedure set out at Rule 13.6.1 ADR.
