NAIROBI, KENYA — Tuesday, July 23
Kenya’s preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships were clouded by renewed doping concerns as the national trials got underway on Tuesday, following the provisional suspension of Ruth Chepngetich, the reigning women’s marathon world record holder.
Chepngetich, 30, tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide during an out-of-competition test conducted on March 14, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Her case, currently under review, threatens to derail a storied career that includes a world marathon title in Doha in 2019 and a world record-setting 2:09:56 performance in Chicago last year, making her the first woman in history to break the 2:10 barrier in the marathon.
The suspension has reignited concerns over doping in Kenyan athletics and cast a long shadow over the team’s buildup to the World Championships in Tokyo, set for September 13–25.
“It has increased suspicions that it is still a big issue. The authorities still have a lot more to do in the fight against doping,” a former Kenyan world champion told AFP, requesting anonymity.
Despite extensive efforts to clean up the sport, Kenya’s track record remains blemished. Since 2017, nearly 130 Kenyan athletes—primarily long-distance runners—have been banned for anti-doping violations. In response, the Kenyan government and athletics authorities have launched a $25 million, five-year program to restore the country’s credibility.
The fight took a stern turn in June 2024 when Beatrice Toroitich received the country’s first-ever lifetime ban, and Rhonex Kipruto, a 10 km world record holder, was handed a six-year suspension.
Prominent sports lawyer Sarah Ochwada, who has represented numerous suspended athletes, insists Kenya has made progress.
“Anti-doping is a complex system. It is a mix of biochemistry and medico-legal regulations,” said Ochwada. “With more testing, the system is likely to catch both inadvertent and intentional anti-doping rule violators. It’s now up to the athletes to take destiny into their own hands.”
Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide are banned for their ability to mask other substances or aid rapid weight loss, both of which offer potential performance benefits.
Despite the controversy, Athletics Kenya remains optimistic about its medal prospects in Tokyo, a decade after stunning the athletics world by topping the overall medal table in Beijing 2015 with seven golds, six silvers, and three bronzes.
One of the standout athletes at Tuesday’s trials was 18-year-old Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech, fresh from a surprise win over reigning world champion Josh Kerr at the London Diamond League on Saturday. His rise signals Kenya’s continued pipeline of emerging talent even as the sport grapples with credibility challenges.
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