'It Is Really Freaking Hard' - Sifan Hassan Speaks on Ruth Chepng'etich's Doping Ban

Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan has shared her candid thoughts on Ruth Chepng’etich’s recent doping ban.

Sifan Hassan and Ruth Chepng’etich, who have faced each other only twice in their careers, last met at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, where Sifan Hassan claimed victory over the world record holder. Their first encounter came at the 2018 Copenhagen Half Marathon, which Sifan Hassan also won.

Any future rematch between the two will now have to wait, as Ruth Chepng’etich serves a three-year ban imposed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after admitting to Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs).

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She tested positive for the banned diuretic Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a substance prohibited under World Athletics’ anti-doping regulations.

Sifan Hassan said she had been unaware of the timing of Ruth Chepng’etich’s ban, explaining that she deliberately stayed away from the media in recent weeks to concentrate fully on her race preparations.

The former London Marathon champion added that it is difficult for her to comment on other athletes, emphasising that matters of doping were the responsibility of WADA.

Sifan Hassan expressed sadness over the situation, admitting that it was a hard topic to talk about and that she genuinely did not know what more to say.

“The thing is, like the last three weeks, I don't know when she got banned. I was really not in the media because I just wanted to focus here. This race is very hard; we have strong females who are racing, and I just heard like a couple of months ago from the media when they asked me that question,” Sifan Hassan told Letsrun.com.

“It is so hard for me to say anything about other athletes, and the only thing I know myself and that the job is for WADA to do the things. It is really sad, and what should I say, it's really freaking hard. I'm being honest. I don't know what to say.”

Sifan Hassan admitted that the situation is difficult to understand, noting that she had recently learned during a class that no banned substances were detected in Ruth Chepng’etich’s sample after the Chicago Marathon.

She said this made it even harder for her to comment on the matter. Sifan Hassan reflected that some athletes turn to doping out of a lack of proper education, stressing that while it might help them perform better temporarily, it can ultimately ruin their lives and even endanger their health.

She explained that once athletes begin using such substances, their bodies start to depend on them, often leading to serious medical issues and early retirement. Hassan described the situation as deeply unfortunate.

“It's hard. And we don't know. I think yesterday I was doing a class. They said they didn't find anything after the race in Chicago. So, it's hard for me to say anything about it. I think you know many athletes make mistakes because they don't have that much education,” Sifan Hassan added.

“But the thing is, you not only run fast, but you can also destroy your life; you can die from it. It’s like they can die medically or in the future, also they could have a lot of problems. When people do drugs, they don't have long for it because once you start the substance and then the body asks for more, and then after a couple of years, they retire. It is so sad.”

Sifan Hassan emphasised the importance of educating young athletes about the dangers and long-term consequences of doping. She said that while using banned substances might bring short-term success, it ultimately shortens an athlete’s career and causes serious harm.

The Dutch star stressed that hard work and perseverance were far better paths to lasting success, adding that she hopes to use her platform to teach young people that doping can have devastating effects and, in some cases, even cost them their lives.

“I think they should teach how dangerous the damage is, and a young athlete should learn for themselves how dangerous and how bad it is. Of course, you're going to get success, but it’s not going to be a long career,” she added.

“It is just better to work harder, and you will keep going for 10 years. I think that's what I want to teach. I want to tell young people at least, this is also going to hurt you so badly. It's going to cost their life.”

While she expressed sadness over Ruth Chepng’etich’s situation, Sifan Hassan’s message ultimately centred on awareness and the long-term value of clean competition.