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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that sample - including her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, awards, championships, appearance and earnings from March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

"Although unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their events."