The world of distance running is no stranger to dominance. From Catherine Ndereba to Paula Radcliffe, women have steadily redefined the limits of the marathon. But on October 13, 2024, Ruth Chepngetich took it to another dimension. In Chicago, she broke the 2:10 barrier — something no woman had ever done before. Her finishing time of 2:09:56 was nearly two minutes faster than the previous world record. Some hailed it as a generational breakthrough. Others greeted it with raised eyebrows. But before controversy clouded her rise, Chepngetich had already built a résumé few could rival.
What titles and records has Ruth Chepngetich won in her career?
Chepngetich, a road runner from Kenya, has long been a central figure in women’s distance racing. In October 2024, she shattered the women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon. It was not her first triumph in the Windy City. She had already taken victory there in both 2021 and 2022, making her a three-time champion of the event.
Her dominance goes beyond one course. In 2019, she claimed gold at the World Championships marathon in Doha, where athletes competed under the taxing conditions of midnight desert heat. Her earlier success at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2018 had brought her a silver medal in Valencia. In addition to her record-setting exploits in the marathon, Chepngetich owns the sixth-fastest half-marathon time in history, clocking 1:04:02 at the Istanbul Half-Marathon.
A brief timeline of events since Ruth Chepngetich’s marathon world record…
Oct. 13, 2024 – Ruth Chepngetich takes nearly two minutes off the marathon world record in 2:09:56 – becomes the first woman to break 2:11 and 2:10.
In the post-race press conference, LetsRun’s Robert… https://t.co/e4gAkFEYoD
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) July 17, 2025
She holds a full rack of World Marathon Majors honors. Gold in Chicago three times (2021, 2022, 2024), a silver in 2023, and a bronze in London in 2020. Until very recently, her resume had seemed untouchable.
Inside Ruth Chepngetich’s doping violation
On July 17, 2025, that reputation began to unravel. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) issued a formal Notice of Charge and provisionally suspended Chepngetich. They cited a banned substance detected in a urine sample she submitted on March 14. The test found hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a diuretic often used to mask the presence of other performance-enhancing drugs. According to the AIU, Chepngetich’s urine contained 3,800 ng/mL of HCTZ. Which was well above the reporting threshold of 20 ng/mL.
Speaking on behalf of the AIU, Brett Clothier stated, “In the intervening months, the AIU continued its investigation and today issued a Notice of Charge and imposed its own provisional suspension.” He clarified that the initial suspension was voluntary. The process is ongoing. No timetable has been announced for the conclusion of the inquiry, and Chepngetich has the right to challenge the charge in front of a disciplinary panel.
How has the Doping Investigation impacted Ruth Chepngetich’s legacy and athletic future?
The aftermath has been immediate and disruptive. After her sub-2:10 finish last October, speculation had already begun to swirl. Questions surfaced from fans and media outlets alike, many of whom found the result difficult to reconcile with known benchmarks of human performance.
At the press conference following her Chicago win, Robert Johnson, a journalist and co-founder of Let’sRun.com, posed a direct question. What would Chepngetich say to those who believe her time was simply not believable? That query touched a nerve beyond athletics. The Kenyan government issued a formal rebuke, expressing outrage and demanding an apology for what it deemed an unfair implication of dishonesty. Now, with the doping case moving forward, the record itself stands intact but heavily scrutinized. There is no confirmation that the performance was aided by banned substances, but the mere presence of a prohibited diuretic. Especially in such elevated quantities, it has intensified the glare of suspicion.
Ruth Chepngetich (Image Credit: X/@AndrewAmsan)
Should the provisional suspension turn into a full ban, the consequences could stretch far beyond medals. Chepngetich might lose her eligibility to compete at major events, including the World Championships and the Olympic Games. Sponsorships could dissolve, public trust might erode, and her standing within the history of the sport could shift permanently.
Until now, Chepngetich had built a career defined by firsts and fueled by endurance. She redefined what female marathoners could achieve, lowering barriers and timelines in ways that inspired awe and admiration. Yet as her case proceeds through the anti-doping system, her legacy now enters uncertain territory.
Whether the outcome ultimately clears her or confirms wrongdoing, the damage to her standing has already begun to take hold. The athletic community is watching closely, but also cautiously. Supporters urge restraint and due process. Detractors see the positive test as a betrayal of clean sport. For now, Ruth Chepngetich waits. Her supporters hope for exoneration. Her critics anticipate judgment. And the sport of marathon running continues forward, aware that its brightest headlines can quickly turn into its most delicate inquiries.
The post What Are Ruth Chepngetich’s Greatest Achievements — And Are They Now Overshadowed by Her Doping Suspension? Everything to Know appeared first on EssentiallySports.
