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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the runner admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that sample - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, honors, championships, appearance and prize money from 14 March lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."