Ruth Chepngetich, the female marathon runner from Kenya, set a new record time at last Sunday’s Chicago marathon, eliciting a mix of incredulity and skepticism. Despite a history of remarkable times and a two-time winner, Chepngetich’s winning streak raised eyebrows, given that her winning time of 2:09:56 shaved nearly two minutes off the previous world record set a year before.
Moreover, Chepngetich, being 30 years old and a 2019 world champion, not only superseded her own personal record of 2:14:18, but also became the first female to crack the 2:10 benchmark. This was a feat achieved barely a year after Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa broke the 2:12 record in Berlin.
The new record time of Chepngetich, interestingly enough, echoes the winning time achieved by John Treacy when he seized the silver in the men’s marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Treacy’s time would have indeed secured him gold in the succeeding five Olympic marathons.
Furthermore, Chepngetich’s world milestone stands faster by 13 and a half minutes than the Irish women’s marathon record of 2:22:23, established in 1998 by Catherina McKiernan in Amsterdam.
Although critics of Chepngetich’s record-setting performance have not overlooked the fact that she has never tested positive on a doping test, a cloud of suspicion still lingers, due largely to the alarming rate at which Kenyan long-distance runners have yielded positive doping tests in the past half a decade, more than athletes from any other nation..
Chepngetich’s Nike Alphafly 3 trainers, the identical model sported during a record-breaking run by Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum at the tender age of 23 in Chicago the previous year, did not go unnoticed. Kiptum’s unfortunate demise in a Kenyan road accident just a short four months later is a tragic footnote to his achievements.
Chepngetich’s coaching staff, or rather the lack thereof, doesn’t raise any suspicions. However, her Italian representative Federico Rosa does carry a questionable record with Kenyan long-distance athletes, including Rita Jeptoo, multi-winner of Boston and Chicago marathons, and 2016 Olympic victor Jemima Sumgong, both currently serving extensive doping suspensions.
During a post-race briefing, Chepngetich was directly questioned about possible doping allegations as her time was perceived as unusually quick. Her response was nonchalant, acknowledging that people are naturally disposed to make remarks, whether founded or not.
Expressions of fatigue about the extensive doping incidents within Kenyan athletics in recent years have been heard, with Duncan Mackay, prior Guardian athletic correspondent, suggesting that the disillusionment with Kenyan wins is on the same level as with Russia. He implies that Chepngetich’s exceptional performance might be the final straw for spectators’ belief.
Unfortunately, the running community soon perceived Chepngetich’s accomplishment with scepticism. It’s a bitter pill to swallow that such an amazing footrace achievement garnered such disbelief.
Without any proof of foul play from Chepngetich, as she has yet to test positive in a doping examination, one can only speculate. Nonetheless, personal opinions aside, remaining silent on the matter does not seem like the right course, according to Amby Burfoot.
I’ve been privileged to bear witness to numerous global achievements in my lifetimes, ranging from the feats of Michael Johnson, Haile Gebrselassie and Usain Bolt, right up to Mondo Duplantis’ pole vault at the recent Paris Olympics. Even though some were met with doubts and scrutiny over the years, they never failed to electrify and possibly even motivate.
However, the current situation is entirely disparate, as flawlessly encapsulated by American athletics journalist, Amby Burfoot, victor of the 1968 Boston Marathon. He voiced his missgivings this week in an article titled: “Why It’s Difficult To Have Faith In Ruth Chepngetich’s Marathon World Record.”
In it, Burfoot indicates: “The extraordinary 2:09:56 world record set by Ruth Chepngetich in Sunday’s Chicago Marathon was undeniably the most remarkable marathon achievement ever”, before confessing: “This gives me unease. In truth, I’m incensed.
“I will endeavour to concisely communicate why I’m so disturbed by this performance. I confess that I may be mistaken. Since there is no proof that Chepngetich employed unfair methods, as she has not been unsuccessful in a drug test, I’m not wrong. I don’t believe it’s fitting to refrain from expressing concerns.”
Continuing his piece, Burfoot suggests: “Perhaps it’s impossible to revise the record books, yet we can still rise and voice our realities. Because female athletes merit better. All runners deserve better. The narrative belongs to us and originates from our sport. Let’s relay our experiences loud, clear and with integrity.”
At what point is enough actually enough?
— Toni Reavis
In agreement with this sentiment, fellow American athletics journalist, Toni Reavis, put forth as assertive a stance, stating: “A few decline to even contemplate the plausibility of such record timings. Some contend ‘hold off and see if any affirmative drug results emerge in due course’, as has frequently been the case previously. And hardly any suggest, ‘everything is above board, there’s nothing of note aside from an impressive performance’.”
Renowned Australian athletics commentator, Christopher Kelsall, has recently indicated that Chepngetich’s run at the Chicago Marathon last Sunday significantly altered current perceptions of marathon performance standards. For those familiar with the discipline, the reading on the timer upon finishing was a momentous shock. Kelsall then raises the provocative question as to when World Athletics and Wada will recognise Kenya’s complicity in questionable athletics practices, prompting a necessary suspension for the country to rectify their image. He suggests that perhaps only a positive test from Chepngetich, resulting in a four-year prohibition, would catalyse such action. His rhetorical question, “When is enough, enough?” suggests a definitive answer to this may have been signified by the recent occurrences at the Chicago event.