1. Ruth Jebet was born on 17 November 1996 and is a Kenyan-born long-distance runner and steeplechase specialist who competes internationally for Bahrain.
10 Facts About Ruth Jebet
1. 2.
Ruth Jebet was the world record holder and was the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the 3000 metres steeplechase, both achieved before turning 20.
3.
Ruth Jebet's time of 9:52.47 minutes was a Bahraini national record for the event.
4.
Ruth Jebet improved upon her own mark that July at the 2013 Asian Athletics Championships, where she seized the lead from the start and never relinquished her position.
5.
Ruth Jebet defeated pre-race favourite and Asian Games champion Sudha Singh by more than fifteen seconds and her time of 9:40.84 minutes was a new championship record.
6.
Ruth Jebet finished ahead of Kenya's Hyvin Jepkemoi, who ran 9:07.12 to take silver, and American Emma Coburn, who ran 9:07.63 to capture the bronze.
7.
On 27 August 2016, at the Paris stage of the 2016 IAAF Diamond League, Ruth Jebet smashed the existing 3000-metres steeplechase world record running at 8:52.78, more than six seconds faster than the old record.
8.
In March 2018, Ruth Jebet became embroiled in a drug-testing scandal when she tested positive for r-EPO, a performance-enhancing drug that increases stamina by producing more red blood cells.
9.
Ruth Jebet told the Athletics Integrity Unit she had not taken it intentionally, but after a two-year investigation into the matter a disciplinary tribunal in March 2020 ruled against her, handing down a four-year suspension, which began on 18 February 2018, and stripped Ruth Jebet of all her results from 1 December 2017 to 4 February 2018.
10.
Ruth Jebet has been a controversial figure in Kenya because she switched allegiances to run for Bahrain, offending many Kenyans who have accused her of disloyalty.