Athletics wishes it could scrub the women’s marathon world record – what can be done?

When Ruth Chepngetich annihilated the women’s marathon world record in Chicago two years ago today, NBC’s commentators compared it to the moon landing. “Bring it on, Neil Armstrong!” cried one. “She has done things in this sport that we have not seen,” said another. “Unbelievable!”

That was a word others reached for too after the Kenyan had crossed the line in 2:9:56, a time that not only smashed the world record by 1:57, but her personal best by a staggering five minutes. Afterwards, she was asked by Robert Johnson of Let’s Run what her response was to those who believed she must be doping. “People must talk,” she replied. “I don’t know.”