The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Announced On Thursday That Chepngetich Accepted A Three-Year Suspension, Which Has Been Backdated To April 19. The AIU, Which Oversees Doping Cases In International Athletics, Had Provisionally Suspended Her In July Pending The Outcome Of Investigations.
According To The AIU, Chepngetich Tested Positive For Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), A Diuretic Often Used To Mask The Presence Of Performance-Enhancing Drugs. The Positive Result Came From A Sample Collected On March 14, Triggering Further Scrutiny Into Her Case.
Investigators Reportedly Obtained Evidence From Chepngetich’s Phone That Raised Additional Suspicions About Her Activities, The AIU Said. During Interviews On April 16 And July 11, When Confronted With The Phone Evidence, Chepngetich Denied Ever Using Banned Substances But Failed To Provide A Satisfactory Explanation For The Positive Test.
The Ban Marks A Major Setback For The 2023 Chicago Marathon Champion And Former World Marathon Champion, Casting Another Shadow Over Kenya’s Long-Distance Running Community, Which Continues To Grapple With A Growing Number Of Doping Cases Among Elite Athletes.
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