Marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich provisionally suspended over banned substance
Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women's marathon record in Chicago in October 2024, becoming the first woman to break two hours, 10 minutes.
LONDON - Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for the presence and use of the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
The substance, a diuretic, was detected in a sample collected from the Kenyan athlete on March 14, the AIU said in a statement on July 17.
'Chepngetich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification. However, on April 19, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU's investigation was ongoing,' said AIU head Brett Clothier.
'In the intervening months, the AIU continued its investigation and today issued a notice of charge and imposed its own provisional suspension.'
The AIU said HCTZ is used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension, adding that diuretics may be abused to mask the presence in urine of other prohibited substances.
Chepngetich smashed the women's marathon record in Chicago in October 2024, running two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds to become the first woman to break 2:10.
Chepngetich's agent did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho
Asia Air India probe into Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues
Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore
Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment
Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes
Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
In April, Chepngetich withdrew from the London Marathon, saying at the time she was 'not in the right place mentally or physically' to race her best.
Marathon running has been hit with a spate of high-profile doping cases in recent years, particularly from Kenya which is world renowned for its middle and long-distance runners.
In April 2023, Athletics Kenya said its government pledged US$5 million (S$6.4 million) a year for five years to fight doping in athletics.
In February 2024, Kenya's Sarah Chepchirchir was hit with an eight-year ban after the former Tokyo Marathon winner was found to have violated anti-doping regulations for a second time.
A year later, Kenyan marathon runner Brimin Kipkorir was also provisionally suspended by the AIU after he tested positive for prohibited substances. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
40 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Columbia University to aid Trump policing of foreign students under deal
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Columbia confirmed it will report arrest information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Beyond the US$221 million that Columbia University will pay as part of its settlement with the White House, the school also accepted new requirements that threaten to sour its relationship with a crucial source of talent and revenue: foreign students. Under the terms of last week's agreement, the university will take on new duties to help the government police international students, said a university official with knowledge of the deal's repercussions. That includes reporting even minor offenses such as trespassing – a common charge for student protesters – that previously were resolved without involving federal authorities. The changes highlight the stepped-up scrutiny foreign students will face, as well as the increased administrative burden the Ivy League school has shouldered to reclaim its federal funding. The university also agreed to take steps to reduce its financial dependence on foreign students, share more information on its student-visa holders and review its international admissions process. International students are already uncertain about their future, with worries spurred by immigration detentions on campus and US officials' attempts to revoke student visas – a campaign that began at Columbia and spread nationwide. The new measures are poised to bring more potentially unsettling changes to a school where almost 40 per cent of students are from outside the US. 'That's one of the most significant changes in this,' said professor at Boston College's Center for International Higher Education Chris Glass, referring to Columbia's settlement. 'It puts the university in an unprecedented and precarious position of being an institution that guards intellectual freedom but also has obligated itself to fulfill reporting responsibilities to the federal government.' In a statement on Aug 1, Columbia confirmed it will report arrest information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) which all colleges that enroll foreign students must participate in. 'As part of the university's longstanding obligations as a participant in SEVIS, certain student information is required to be provided to the program, including disciplinary actions that result in expulsions or suspensions,' the university said. 'In addition to those longstanding requirements, Columbia will now also notify the program if it is made aware of arrest information.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump deploys nuclear submarines in row with Russia World 'Optimistic' Bessent says US has makings of a deal with China Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Singapore Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus while in army uniform Asia 'Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy Opinion America is tearing down another great public institution Opinion Quiet zones in public spaces can help people recharge in the city Singapore Man arrested for allegedly shoplifting twice at Changi Airport Reportable offenses will include infractions such as trespassing, the charge on which 78 students were arrested in May after they occupied a university library in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. 'This is all in the context of the pro-Palestine protests,' Mr Glass said. 'This is a new role the government wants universities to play.' The stepped-up scrutiny is eliciting outside warnings about Columbia's ability to continue enticing foreign applicants. 'International students and their parents were already hesitant about studying at US colleges, and we're not the only game in town anymore. The UK, Australia – there are many alternatives,' said Mr William Brustein, a veteran international-student officer who's worked at large research universities. 'This just adds more fuel to that fire.' Ms Fanta Aw, executive director of NAFSA, an association of international student officers and recruiters, said the arrest and disciplinary reporting requirement was something typically 'outside of the jurisdiction of universities.' The Columbia deal 'sets a precedent that all institutions should be aware of,' she said. Acting President Claire Shipman said in a letter to Columbia students and staff last week that a key reason she was eager to reach an agreement with President Donald Trump was 'the potential revocation of visa status of thousands of international students.' She also said Columbia didn't agree to report any information to which the federal government isn't already legally entitled. Arrest records are already accessible to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, and US agents used criminal records in their efforts to revoke student visas earlier this year. But Columbia hasn't typically been required to keep track of those records. Nor has it been obliged to report infractions to the government unless they result in a suspension or expulsion that affects students' enrollment requirements, and in turn, their visa status. The New York City-based school currently enrolls more international students than all but two other universities in the US, according to data from the Institute of International Education. Since many of them pay full tuition, they're a pillar of Columbia's revenue. Its graduate programs are particularly dependent on applicants from overseas. Other Ivy League schools are similarly reliant on international students to fill their graduate programs, especially in research fields focused on science, technology, engineering and math. While Ms Shipman said the agreement would have no direct bearing on Columbia's admissions process, the concessions echo steps taken by the Trump administration to heighten scrutiny of international applicants, including a new State Department policy for reviewing visa applicants' social media. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would 'aggressively revoke' Chinese students' visas over national security concerns. In July, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the University of Chicago's admissions policies for international students. Last week, the State Department launched a probe into Harvard's compliance with federal regulations around a program for foreign researchers and visitors, months after Mr Trump tried to ban foreign students and scholars from the school. It's not clear whether other schools in settlement talks with the administration will agree to the same measures on international students that Columbia did. Brown University reached a deal with the Trump administration on July 30 that didn't include such provisions. But policies on foreign students are almost certainly on the table in those talks. Mr Stephen Yale-Loehr, a former immigration law professor recently retired from Cornell University, said that for Columbia and other schools entertaining such concessions, 'the devil is in the implementation details.' But 'no matter how this is implemented,' he said, 'it shows international students that Columbia – and other universities that accept similar language – will be less welcoming.' BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
40 minutes ago
- Straits Times
World economies reel from Trump's tariffs punch
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The tariffs are a demonstration of raw economic power that Mr Donald Trump sees putting US exporters in a stronger position. WASHINGTON - Global markets reeled on Aug 1 after President Donald Trump's tariffs barrage against nearly all US trading partners as governments looked down the barrel of a seven-day deadline before higher duties take effect. Mr Trump announced late on July 31 that dozens of economies, including the European Union , will face new tariff rates of between 10 and 41 per cent. However, implementation will be on Aug 7 rather than July 31 as previously announced, the White House said. This gives governments a window to rush to strike deals with Washington setting more favorable conditions. Neighbouring Canada, one of the biggest US trade partners, was hit with 35 per cent levies, up from 25 per cent, effective on Aug 1– but with wide-ranging, current exemptions remaining in place. The tariffs are a demonstration of raw economic power that Mr Trump sees putting US exporters in a stronger position, while encouraging domestic manufacturing by keeping out foreign imports. But the muscular approach has raised fears of inflation and other economic fallout in the world's biggest economy. Stock markets in Hong Kong, London and New York slumped as they digested the turmoil, while weak US employment data added to worries. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump deploys nuclear submarines in row with Russia World 'Optimistic' Bessent says US has makings of a deal with China Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Singapore Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus while in army uniform Asia 'Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy Opinion America is tearing down another great public institution Opinion Quiet zones in public spaces can help people recharge in the city Singapore Man arrested for allegedly shoplifting twice at Changi Airport Mr Trump's actions come as debate rages over how best to steer the US economy, with the Federal Reserve this week deciding to keep interest rates unchanged, despite massive political pressure from the White House to cut. Data on Aug 1 showed US job growth missing expectations for July, while unemployment ticked up to 4.2 percent from 4.1 per cent. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 1.6 per cent, while the Nasdaq tumbled 2.2 per cent. Mr Trump raised duties on around 70 economies, from a current 10 per cent level imposed in April when he unleashed 'reciprocal' tariffs citing unfair trade practices. The new, steeper levels listed in an executive order vary by trading partner. Any goods 'transshipped' through other jurisdictions to avoid US duties would be hit with an additional 40 per cent tariff, the order said. But Mr Trump's duties also have a distinctly political flavour, with the president using separate tariffs to pressure Brazil to drop the trial of his far-right ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro. He also warned of trade consequences for Canada, which faces a different set of duties, after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. In targeting Canada, the White House cited its failure to 'cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs' – although Canada is not a major source of illegal narcotics. By contrast, Mr Trump gave more time to Mexico, delaying for 90 days a threat to increase its tariffs from 25 per cent to 30 per cent. But exemptions remain for a wide range of Canadian and Mexican goods entering the United States under an existing North American trade pact. Mr Carney said his government was 'disappointed' with the latest rates hike but noted that with exclusions the US average tariff on Canadian goods remains one of the lowest among US trading partners. With questions hanging over the effectiveness of bilateral trade deals struck – including with the EU and Japan – the outcome of Mr Trump's overall plan remains uncertain. 'No doubt about it – the executive order and related agreements concluded over the past few months tears up the trade rule book that has governed international trade since World War II,' said Ms Wendy Cutler, senior vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute. On Aug 1, Mr Trump said he would consider distributing a tariff 'dividend' to Americans. Notably excluded from on Aug 1's drama was China, which is in the midst of negotiations with the United States. Washington and Beijing at one point brought tit-for-tat tariffs to triple-digit levels, but have agreed to temporarily lower these duties and are working to extend their truce. Those who managed to strike deals with Washington to avert steeper threatened levies included Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and the European Union.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump administration refers Harvard to Justice Department to address anti-Semitism allegations
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Harvard University has been embroiled in a legal fight with the Trump administration, seeking the restoration of billions of dollars of frozen federal funds. WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's administration has sent a letter to Harvard University saying it has referred the university to the US Justice Department to address allegations of 'Harvard's anti-Semitic discrimination'. In late June, the Trump administration said an investigation had concluded Harvard violated federal civil rights law for failing to address harassment of Jewish and Israeli students. Critics, rights experts and some faculty said such probes are a pretext to assert federal control over schools, and threaten academic freedom and free speech. Harvard has been embroiled in talks and a legal fight with the Trump administration, seeking the restoration of billions of dollars of frozen federal funds for medical research and other programmes. It sued the Trump administration earlier in 2025. 'The parties' several months' engagement has been fruitless,' said the letter dated July 31 from the US Department of Health and Human Services to Harvard's leadership. 'OCR (Office for Civil Rights) therefore has no choice but to refer the matter to DOJ to initiate appropriate proceedings to address Harvard's anti-Semitic discrimination.' Mr Trump has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's war in Gaza. The government alleges universities allowed anti-Semitism during 2024's pro-Palestinian protests. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump deploys nuclear submarines in row with Russia World 'Optimistic' Bessent says US has makings of a deal with China Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Singapore Man in SAF custody after allegedly vaping on bus while in army uniform Asia 'Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy Opinion America is tearing down another great public institution Opinion Quiet zones in public spaces can help people recharge in the city Singapore Man arrested for allegedly shoplifting twice at Changi Airport Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with anti-Semitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. Campus protesters demanded an end to US backing for Israel and a commitment that their universities will cease investing in weapons makers and companies that support Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Harvard had no immediate comment on the July 31 letter. The university has said it aims to combat discrimination. Reports released in April by Harvard's anti-Semitism and Islamophobia task forces found fear and bigotry faced by Jewish, Muslim and Arab students. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia. Last week, Columbia University agreed to pay more than US$220 million (S$286 million) to resolve federal probes. The New York Times has reported Harvard was open to spending up to US$500 million to end its dispute with the US government. REUTERS
