Doping Scandal Clouds Kenya Athletics Ahead of World Championships
NAIROBI – Kenya athletics is once again under the global spotlight following the provisional suspension of marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, casting a shadow over the nation’s preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 25.
Chepngetich, 30, tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide on March 14, according to a report by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). The news, which broke just days before the national trials held on Tuesday, has sent ripples across Kenya’s sporting community, reigniting concerns about the country’s ongoing battle with doping.
Chepngetich’s suspension threatens to derail what has been a stellar career. She claimed the 2019 World Championship marathon title in Doha and made history in October 2023 by setting a new women’s marathon world record in Chicago. Her finishing time of 2:09:56 made her the first woman in history to complete the distance in under 2 hours and 10 minutes — a landmark achievement in Kenya athletics.
But now, her accomplishments are under scrutiny, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
Doping Casts a Long Shadow Over Kenya Athletics
The resurgence of doping controversies has raised uncomfortable questions within the Kenya athletics fraternity. While official reactions have remained subdued, insiders and experts are voicing concern.
“It has increased suspicions that [doping] is still a big issue,” a former Kenyan world champion told AFP anonymously. “The authorities still have a lot more to do in the fight against doping.”
Kenya has been trying to rebuild its tarnished image following a series of doping scandals, especially around the 2016 Rio Olympics. At one point, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declared Kenya non-compliant due to its lax anti-doping systems.
Since 2017, nearly 130 Kenyan athletes, mostly long-distance runners, have been sanctioned for various doping violations. To counter this, the Kenyan government launched a $25 million five-year anti-doping programme aimed at education, testing, and enforcement.
The programme has already begun producing results. In June 2024, Kenya issued its first lifetime ban to marathoner Beatrice Toroitich and handed a six-year suspension to 10km record-holder Rhonex Kipruto.
Prominent Kenyan sports lawyer Sarah Ochwada believes that while the country has made commendable progress, the road ahead remains challenging.
“Anti-doping is a complex system. It’s a mix of biochemistry and medico-legal regulations,” said Ochwada, who has represented several top athletes including Rita Jeptoo, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Mark Otieno.
“With more testing, the system is likely to catch both inadvertent and intentional anti-doping rule violators,” she added. “It’s up to Kenyan athletes to take destiny into their own hands and make sure they don’t accidentally break the rules.”
Diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide are banned because they can help athletes lose weight quickly or mask the presence of performance-enhancing drugs in their system, making them a red flag in anti-doping protocols.
Despite the cloud hanging over Chepngetich’s case, Athletics Kenya remains optimistic about a strong showing at the World Championships. The organization is drawing on the legacy of 2015, when Kenya stunned the world by topping the medal table in Beijing with seven golds, six silvers, and three bronzes.
Tuesday’s national trials showcased emerging talent ready to step up on the global stage. One name drawing attention is Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech, the 18-year-old 1,500m sensation who recently upset reigning world champion Josh Kerr at the London Diamond League.
Koech is part of a new generation aiming to carry the mantle of Kenya athletics forward — hopefully free from the controversies that have plagued their predecessors.
For Kenya athletics to truly reclaim its stature on the world stage, it must continue to pursue transparency, education, and accountability. While the investment into anti-doping measures is a step in the right direction, rebuilding trust requires consistency, both in enforcement and support for clean athletes.
The provisional suspension of Ruth Chepngetich is a reminder that even the sport’s brightest stars are not immune to scrutiny. But it also offers an opportunity — a wake-up call for Kenya athletics to double down on its commitment to clean competition.
As the country prepares for Tokyo 2025, fans, athletes, and stakeholders alike are hoping that the next chapter in Kenya athletics will be written by rising stars and hard-earned victories — not headlines of scandal.
Source- EWN
