Sport governing body Athletics Kenya (AK) has issued a statement following the scrutiny of Ruth Chepng'etich's victory at the Chicago Marathon.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 16, AK stated that many world records have been broken this year, and singling out Chepng'etich's record is unfair.
The governing body further noted that doping claims leveled against Chepng'etich are unfounded as she underwent multiple tests before and after the race.
"In any case, many world records were broken this year, and to single her out is utterly unfair. It is therefore disheartening to witness some sections of the media casting unwarranted doubt on her achievements. Such aspersions, made without due process, undermine not only her efforts but the integrity of the sport.
"It is important to note that Ruth, like all athletes in major competitions, underwent multiple anti-doping tests, both pre-race and post-race. These are standard procedures in events of this magnitude, and only after all results are verified will her record be officially ratified," part of the statement read.
Read More
Chepng'etich achieved a historic victory at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, setting a new women's world record of 2:09:56, surpassing the previous record by nearly two minutes.
This remarkable feat made her the first woman to break both the 2:11 and 2:10 barriers in marathon history.
Chepng'etich's performance was bolstered by ideal weather conditions and strong pacing, as she reached the halfway mark in 1:04:16, marking the fastest half marathon time ever recorded on U.S. soil.
She dedicated her win to fellow Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically passed away in a road accident earlier this year.
