Ruth Chepngetich is the current female marathon world record holder after winning in Chicago 2024 with 2:09:56, almost two minutes below the previous record. She was also the world marathon champion in Doha 2019 (overcoming extreme heat), and won in Chicago on three occasions (2021, 2022, and 2024). These achievements place her among the most outstanding long-distance runners of her generation.
Since her international breakthrough, Chepngetich has been seen as an example of discipline and dedication. She trains with the Rosassociati team in Italy under Nike sponsorship and has established her name in the elite of long-distance racing. For example, her personal best until 2022 was 2:14:18 (achieved in Chicago), which at the time ranked her fourth in the history of the race. “I am very happy for the victory and for bringing the gold back to Kenya… it was a tough race, but I knew what to expect,” she said after winning the 2019 World Championship. However, her career took a turn in 2025 with the emergence of a doping scandal that surprised many.
Career and athletic achievements
From an early age, Chepngetich demonstrated her talent in long-distance races. At 23, she won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2019 Doha World Championships, prevailing in extreme heat and humidity. That victory solidified her in the athletics elite and, in the following years, she specialized in the Chicago marathon: winning in 2021, 2022, and 2024. In addition to those titles, her personal record in the half marathon (1:04:02 in Istanbul) also places her among the best in the world at intermediate distances.
Chepngetich is known for her work ethic and positive mental approach. According to her own words, she trained under demanding conditions (for example, running under the intense Dubai sun to acclimate) and always sought to give her best for Kenya. Her teammates highlight that she maintains a humble attitude despite her successes. Ultimately, her career reflects not only numbers and titles, but also a story of personal dedication and passion for athletics, which makes her an inspiring role model for young athletes.
World record in Chicago 2024
The pinnacle of her career came at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024, when Chepngetich crossed the finish line in 2:09:56. With this time, she shattered the previous female world record (2:11:53) by almost two minutes, breaking the 2:10 barrier that few thought possible in the marathon. The athlete later stated that the mild weather conditions and her optimal preparation had been key to the feat. Immediately after the race, she declared that achieving the record was the “dream” of her life and attributed her success to the meticulous planning of her training.
Chepngetich dedicated this victory to the memory of Kenyan marathoner Kelvin Kiptum (Chicago 2023 champion who passed away months earlier) as a tribute to her friend and compatriot. Her gesture moved both fans and colleagues. On one hand, it was a source of national pride in Kenya; on the other, it generated astonishment in the international athletic community. Her previous mark was 2:14:18 (2022), and rivals such as Kenyan Betsy Saina admitted feeling impressed: Saina commented that she used to think 2:13 was “crazy,” and upon seeing 2:09, “she didn’t know what to think.” In short, this performance in Chicago not only cemented the female world record but also marked a milestone that highlighted her enormous competitive potential.
Doping controversy and sanction
A few months after her record, Chepngetich was at the center of a controversial news story: the AIU detected a positive analytical result for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a prohibited diuretic, in March 2025. The concentration found was 3,800 ng/mL, about 190 times higher than the allowed limit of 20 ng/mL. She initially denied any doping, but in July the runner changed her version: she admitted that days before the race she had been ill and had consumed, “unaware,” her housemaid’s medicine, which contained HCTZ. These explanations were deemed implausible by the AIU, who considered the case an example of “indirect intent” due to negligence in ingestion.
For this reason, the AIU initially proposed a four-year suspension but reduced the penalty to three years after her early admission of guilt. The sanction was formalized in October 2025. Although her Chicago record (2:09:56) remains in the books—since it was achieved before the positive test—the suspension will halt her competitions until 2028. The AIU director, Brett Clothier, emphasized that this case demonstrates that “no one is above the rules” of sport and underlined the importance of integrity in athletics. Meanwhile, the case remains a subject of debate, and the athlete has expressed her desire to clarify the facts before the authorities, keeping the athletics world attentive to the consequences of this episode.
