Athletics Contemplates Resetting Women's Marathon Record—What Steps Can Be Taken?

Two years ago, Ruth Chepngetich shattered the women’s marathon world record in Chicago, prompting comparisons to the moon landing by commentators. Her astonishing time of 2:09:56 not only broke the previous record by 1:57 but also surpassed her personal best by five minutes. Following her run, when asked about doping allegations, Chepngetich responded, “People must talk. I don’t know.”

However, just five months later, Chepngetich's reputation took a hit. She failed a doping test and received a three-year ban. Today, her world record stands, as it was set prior to the positive test. Yet, her case raises important questions about the credibility of records in athletics.

Recently, Brett Clothier from the Athletics Integrity Unit expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, noting the clear rules under the world anti-doping code. Although Chepngetich was clean at the time of her record-setting run, the lingering doubts affect the sport’s integrity.

Suspicion is not new in athletics; many records from the 1980s and 1990s are viewed with skepticism due to state-sponsored doping. The case of Florence Griffith Joyner, who improved her times without a positive test, also stirs unease. Allegations of doping circulated around her, though no proof was ever found.

Chepngetich's case is unique as she received a lengthy ban so soon after setting a world record. Her defense—that she took her housemaid's medication for a rapid heartbeat—was deemed “hardly credible” by the AIU. The AIU also found concerning messages on her phone regarding testosterone and third-party programs.

When asked what can be done, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stated that removing her results would be legally challenging. They differentiated her case from that of Lance Armstrong, who contested his sanction but did not succeed.

One suggestion is for athletes to sign a social contract, agreeing to forfeit records if they test positive within a year. However, this would require a broad consensus and changes to the WADA code, making it unlikely.

Despite these challenges, athletics has made significant strides in anti-doping efforts, with 317 Kenyan athletes caught by the AIU since its inception. Some athletes and sponsors are taking proactive measures to ensure clean competition, indicating a commitment to integrity in the sport.