Athletics-Legal restrictions on punishing dopers leave Coe frustrated

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Opening press conference - Japan National Stadium, Shinjuku, Japan - September 12, 2025 World Athletics President Sebastian Coe during the opening press conference REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he was as frustrated as anyone at the farcical situation surrounding the legal world record belonging to banned Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich's marathon but added that the governing body's hands are tied.

Chepngetich's astonishing two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds run in Chicago in October 2024 remains the legal world record even though she was handed a three-year anti-doping ban this year, with her results expunged only from March.