Ribavirin　(RBV),　a　synthesized　broad-spectrum　antiviral　drug,　was　found　to　significantly　quench　the　electro-chemiluminescence　(ECL)　emission　of　Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)　/triethylamine　(TEA)　system　in　a　pH　11.5　phosphate　buffer　solution.　Based　on　the　UV-visible　absorption　spectra,　cyclic　voltammograms　and　ECL　curves　study,　we　reckoned　that　the　ECL　quenching　may　be　attributed　to　the　interaction　between　RBV　and　the　electrogenerated　TEA　free　radical-a　strongly　reducing　free　radical　which　can　effectively　enhance　the　ECL　of　Ru(bpy)(3)(2+).　Based　on　the　quenching　effect　of　RBV　on　Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)　/TEA,　a　simple,　rapid　and　sensitive　method　for　the　analysis　of　RBV　was　proposed.　Under　the　optimal　conditions,　the　logarithm　of　RBV　concentration　versus　the　quenched　ECL　intensity　was　linear　over　the　ranges　of　2　x　10(-7)　-5　x　10(-5)　M,　with　a　detection　limit　of　8.5　x　10(-8)　M　(S/N　=　3)　in　a　pH　=　11.5　0.05　M　phosphate　buffer　solution　containing　5.0　x　10(-6)　M　Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)　and　1.0　x　10(-6)　M　TEA.　To　verify　its　practicability,　the　proposed　method　was　employed　to　the　determination　of　RBV　in　tablets　and　the　recoveries　were　ranged　from　93%-102%.