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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the runner admitted to anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's punishment was reduced to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic below the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner confessed to the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their races."