Kenya,24 October 2025 - Kenya’s world marathon record holder, Ruth Chepngetich, has been handed a three-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for a banned substance, marking another major setback for Kenya’s athletics fraternity.
The AIU said Chepngetich tested positive for testosterone, a prohibited anabolic agent, following an out-of-competition test in April 2024. In its ruling released on Wednesday, the AIU confirmed the athlete did not appeal the findings, resulting in an automatic ban that will see her stripped of her recent titles and barred from competition until 2028.
“This decision reflects our zero-tolerance policy against doping and the importance of maintaining fairness in competition,” said Brett Clothier, head of the Athletics Integrity Unit, in a statement published on the AIU website.
A Shock to Kenya’s Sporting Reputation
Chepngetich, 30, is one of Kenya’s most decorated long-distance runners, a 2019 world marathon champion and two-time Chicago Marathon winner. Her ban sent shockwaves through Kenya’s running community, where she was considered a symbol of consistency and resilience. Kenya’s Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) expressed disappointment but reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring clean sport.
“Every athlete bears responsibility for what enters their body,” said Sarah Shibutse, ADAK’s Director of Education and Research. “Cases like this remind us that integrity must remain at the core of our sporting identity.”
A Pattern of Scandals in Kenyan Athletics
Chepngetich’s case adds to a troubling trend. Between 2017 and 2025, more than 130 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned for doping violations, one of the highest counts globally.
According to TRT Afrika, Kenya continues to grapple with a “culture of chemical shortcuts” despite government reforms and athlete education programs. One in every three doping cases in Kenya involves norandrosterone, an anabolic metabolite commonly found in performance-enhancing drugs, according to the Anti-Doping Database. Recent high-profile bans have intensified scrutiny:
- Lawrence Cherono, a two-time major marathon winner, was handed a seven-year ban in 2024 after being found guilty of using trimetazidine and tampering with samples.
- Rhonex Kipruto, the 10 km world record holder, received a six-year ban for abnormalities in his biological passport suggesting blood manipulation.
- Sarah Chepchirchir, another top marathoner, is serving an eight-year suspension after repeated testosterone violations.
These cases have collectively tarnished Kenya’s reputation as the home of clean long-distance running, prompting tighter monitoring by the World Athletics and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). “Kenya’s challenge isn’t talent, it’s trust,” said Michael Boit, a former Olympian and sports lecturer at Kenyatta University. “The more we lose our moral ground, the harder it becomes for future athletes to be believed, even when they are clean.”
A Call for Reform and Rehabilitation
Athletes and analysts are now urging the government and sports federations to invest more in education, testing, and counselling. Kenya’s Ministry of Sports recently launched a clean-sport outreach campaign in Iten and Eldoret, areas known as global training hubs, but critics say enforcement remains uneven. “We need to go beyond punishment,” noted Dr. Paul Ngetich, a sports medicine expert at Moi University.
“Rehabilitation, mentoring, and better testing technology are the only way to rebuild credibility.” As Kenya continues to dominate the world’s marathon podiums, Chepngetich’s fall from grace serves as a stark reminder that the nation’s running legacy, built over decades, can be undermined by a few unethical choices. “We must protect what our forefathers built,” added Boit. “Clean victories are the only victories worth celebrating.”
