Sifan Hassan’s coach, Tim Rowberry, has voiced strong disapproval of the three-year doping suspension handed to Kenyan marathon runner Ruth Chepng’etich, calling for a harsher sanction to uphold fairness in athletics.
Chepng’etich, the women’s marathon world record holder, was banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for the banned diuretic Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). The prohibited substance, often referred to as a “water pill,” is known to act as a masking agent that can conceal the use of performance-enhancing drugs in urine samples. Her positive test came from an out-of-competition urine sample collected on March 14, 2025.
Rowberry questioned why Chepng’etich’s ban was reduced from the standard four years to three, saying he found it difficult to understand the leniency in such a serious doping violation. He stated that while he tries to remain objective, consistency in anti-doping enforcement is essential to preserve the integrity of the sport.
Chepng’etich had provisionally suspended herself in April 2025 after being notified of the adverse finding. Initially, she claimed she could not explain the presence of the banned substance. However, months later, she told investigators she had accidentally taken her housemaid’s medication two days before the test while unwell, forgetting to disclose the incident.
The AIU rejected her explanation, labeling it “hardly credible” and describing her actions as reckless, amounting to an indirect intent to cheat. Although the AIU initially sought a four-year sanction, Chepng’etich admitted to the violation on September 10, 2025. Under anti-doping rules, early admission resulted in a one-year reduction, leading to the three-year suspension.
Her ban is effective from April 19, 2025, but her remarkable world record time of 2:09:56 set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon remains valid since it occurred before the date of the positive test.
Despite accepting the punishment, the AIU confirmed ongoing investigations into suspicious materials recovered from her phone, suggesting possible links to broader doping activities.
Rowberry’s remarks have reignited debate within athletics about consistency in sanctions and the need for tougher measures against doping to protect clean athletes and restore trust in the sport.
