Ruth Chepngetich is a Kenyan long-distance runner and the Women’s Marathon World Record Holder.
She is a world championships gold medalist and recently competed at the 2024 Chicago Marathon held on Sunday, October 13, 2024, where she won the event for the third time, finishing in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds.
She was born in August 1996 in Kericho County.
On July 17, 2025, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) temporarily suspended her participation in competitions following a positive drug test result.
Educational Background of Ruth Chepngetich
The Kenyan marathon runner completed her primary and secondary education in Kericho County.
She attended Sigowet Primary School and Momoniat Secondary School in Kericho, where she participated in numerous school-level athletic tournaments.
Ruth Chepngetich later fully committed to athletics and did not pursue university education, opting instead to train professionally as a runner.
“I simply told my parents that it was needless for them to spend money on me in college, yet my desire and focus was to pursue a career in athletics,” Chepngetich said in past interview with Nation Africa.
Her early exposure to cross-country competitions during school helped sharpen her talent.
Career Journey
Ruth Chepngetich turned professional in 2017 and made her mark by winning the Istanbul Marathon in 2017 and again in 2018, where she set a course record of 2:18:35.
In 2019, she won gold at the World Championships in Doha under hot and humid conditions.
She represented Kenya in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and went on to win the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022.
On October 13, 2024, Ruth Chepngetich broke the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, clocking 2:09:56.
This performance made her the first woman in history to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes, surpassing the previous record set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa.
Ruth Chepngetich trained under coach Gabriel Kiptanui and is sponsored by Nike. She is a frequent participant in the World Marathon Majors.
On July 17, 2025, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced that Ruth Chepngetich had been temporarily banned from competing after a drug test from March 14, 2025, showed a banned substance.
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The substance found in her sample, HCTZ, is primarily used to treat fluid retention and high blood pressure, but it is strictly prohibited in sports under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
Ruth Chepngetich’s provisional suspension marks a significant blow to her career and the integrity of marathon running.
Family Life
Ruth Chepngetich was born to Stephen Langat and Milkah Langat, and she has a younger sister and three younger brothers.
She has previously mentioned being raised in a supportive home environment in Kericho, where her passion for athletics was nurtured.
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Chepngetich is married and is a mother. As athlete, the World Champion has learnt to balance her career with her family responsibilities, although she keeps details about her partner and children away from the public.
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