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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner admitted the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."