Exclusive: Ruth Chepng’etich’s Doping Case Dissected by Anti-Doping Officials and Scientists

On Thursday, 17 July, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended world marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich after she tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a banned diuretic and masking agent. The substance was detected in a sample collected on Wednesday, 14 March.

Although a provisional suspension was not mandatory under the World Anti-Doping Code, Chepng’etich voluntarily accepted a provisional ban in April while investigations continued. The AIU issued a formal Notice of Charge, officially triggering her suspension.

“Chepng’etich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification; however, on 19 April, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing,” said AIU Head Brett Clothier.

Chepng’etich’s case sent shockwaves through the global athletics community. The 2024 Chicago Marathon champion made history by becoming the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, clocking 2:09:56. Her stunning performance was hailed as one of the greatest feats in women’s distance running.

She previously competed in the marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) but did not finish. Earlier this year, she was due to race in the London Marathon but withdrew, citing concerns about her form.

Her case now awaits a hearing at a Disciplinary Tribunal.

Kenya’s Doping Problem: A Widening Crack

Her case adds to nearly 300 others, mainly long-distance runners, who have been sanctioned for doping offences in Kenya since 2015.

Former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang, former half marathon world record holder Abraham Kiptum, Rio 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong, London Marathon winner Daniel Wanjiru, triple world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop, and his successor Elijah Manangoi are already part of a cast of high-profile Kenyan runners busted in recent years.

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) was only created in 2016, after the country had narrowly avoided a ban from the Rio Olympics for a series of doping breaches and corruption allegations.

ADAK on the frontline of fighting doping

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, Peninah Wahome, Director of Standards and Compliance at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), acknowledged the blow that Chepng’etich’s case has dealt to Kenya’s athletics reputation, but emphasized that the agency is not relenting.

“The fight against doping is not just on the individual, it is collective. As the agency, we have enhanced testing and whereabouts management. We are reaching more athletes than ever before,” Wahome said.

She went on to add that ADAK is intensifying athlete education ahead of the Tokyo 2025 World Championships. 

“We need to meet the athletes many times. We will have workshops to ensure they are ready for the Championships and can make the right decisions when faced with difficult situations,” she offered.

The budget threat

Kenya’s fight against doping suffered a serious setback after the government slashed ADAK’s budget from Sh288 million (approximately $2,227,968) to just Sh20 million (approximately $154,720) in September 2024, triggering an uproar among athletes, sports officials, and global watchdogs. 

With less funding, ADAK could not run its activities as required and faced a risk of being declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which could have led to significant sanctions, including banning the athletes from international competitions. 

However, luckily, the situation did not extend to such and following the decision by the government in June, ADAK can now resume its daily activities. The budget has since been enhanced to Ksh185 million from the Ksh20 million that had been declared last year.

Still, Wahome insisted that more resources are needed. 

“The fight against doping is capital-intensive. We are grateful for the government’s support, but we still look forward to an enhanced budget so we can expand coverage beyond athletics to other disciplines,” she continued. 

On broader trends, Wahome noted that while certain substances tend to trend in specific periods, there’s no consistent long-term pattern. She also emphasized ADAK’s efforts to begin education early. 

“We’re educating even school-going athletes so that by the time they reach elite levels, they can make the right decisions."

How patterns are spotted inside training camps

SportsBoom.com also chatted with Dr. Byron Kipchumba, a sports scientist and educator at KIPRUN training camp in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet county, who noted that in a camp, it is easy to detect doping athletes by simply observing their behaviour. 

“In camp, we can tell how much an athlete can handle during training. If someone suddenly trains longer without fatigue, we start questioning where that energy is coming from. Avoiding teammates or skipping training also raises suspicion."

"We do blood tests every three months. If someone has unusually high red blood cells, we investigate, since we know what they're eating. Some athletes even fake injuries or frequently go home to dodge testing. If they refuse to see recommended doctors or self-medicate without following protocol, we alert the ADAK officer based here in Iten. That’s how we monitor them,” he shared.

A bigger challenge outside camps

Athletes outside of camps pose a separate challenge. 

“Some ask for supplements from people who do not have the authority or knowledge. If caught, they may shift the blame. Even a coach could be banned if implicated,” he said.

Kipchumba also warned about budget excuses and lack of confidentiality as reasons athletes give for self-medicating. 

“They say doctors are expensive and confidential, yet trust random chemists,” he wondered.

He went on to add that the anti-doping code clearly states the athlete bears full responsibility for what’s in their system.

“Even if the coach or manager was involved, the athlete is still held accountable unless there’s concrete evidence proving otherwise,” he explained.

Mental health struggles are a major factor

Kipchumba further noted that mental health struggles are sometimes a silent driver of doping. 

“If an athlete has been underperforming for a long time, pressure and anxiety might push them to seek shortcuts.”

Chepng’etich’s decision to voluntarily suspend herself instead of pursuing the more expensive B sample analysis raises questions about whether she accepted the outcome to avoid further scrutiny or whether financial barriers deterred her from mounting a full defense.

“When an athlete receives a probable positive test, they're often told they can request a sample B test if they believe they're clean. However, the athlete must cover the cost upfront and is only refunded if the result comes back negative,” the Sports Expert noted.

Kipchumba holds a PHD in kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement. It includes the study of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and psychology.

He further runs a sports medicine organisation, “Running the Race”, which offers medical services to athletes in Iten and Eldoret. 

Sports Principal Secretary (PS) Elijah Mwangi assured that the Ministry will work closely with WADA and ADAK to weed out athletes tarnishing the country’s image.