Another Kenyan Marathon Star Suspended Over Banned Substance
Kenyan long-distance runner Judy Jelagat Kemboi has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance that is becoming increasingly common in athletics.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed on Wednesday, August 6, that Kemboi’s sample tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide, a prohibited drug under global anti-doping rules.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Judy Jelagat Kemboi (Kenya) for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Hydrochlorothiazide),” read a statement from the AIU.
This type of suspension is referred to as a “notice of charge issued,” meaning that although Kemboi is facing a doping charge, she has not yet been officially banned from competition.
The 26-year-old athlete now has the opportunity to respond, defend herself, or present any supporting evidence before a final decision is made.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a type of diuretic that is typically prescribed to treat medical conditions such as high blood pressure and fluid buildup in the body. However, in athletics, its use is strictly prohibited because it can help athletes eliminate fluids quickly through increased urination.
This rapid flushing of fluids may hide the presence of other performance-enhancing drugs, making it a serious anti-doping violation.
According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the use of Hydrochlorothiazide is considered a serious offense due to its potential to act as a masking agent. It can interfere with accurate drug testing by clearing traces of other banned substances from the body.
In addition to hiding other drugs, athletes have also been known to use diuretics like Hydrochlorothiazide to lose weight quickly.
By shedding water weight, they can meet the body weight requirements necessary for certain races or categories, which can give them an unfair advantage.
Interestingly, Kemboi is not the only high-profile Kenyan female athlete to be linked with this substance in recent months. On July 17, world marathon record holder Ruth Chepngetich also tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide.
This came 10 months after she made headlines by running a historic world record time of 2:09:57 at the Chicago Marathon in October last year.
Kemboi has been one of the rising stars in women’s road racing and has delivered remarkable performances over the past year.
In February 2025, she won the 31st edition of the Guadalajara Electrolit Half Marathon in Mexico, further cementing her name among elite long-distance runners.
Earlier, in May 2024, Kemboi stunned fans and competitors alike when she broke the course record at the Rimi Riga Half Marathon. She finished the race in an impressive time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 13 seconds—beating the previous record held by Olympic marathon gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir by 12 seconds.
As the case proceeds, the athletics world now awaits Kemboi’s official response to the doping charge, which will determine whether she will face further penalties or be cleared of wrongdoing.
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