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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - 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 October 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

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

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, participation and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering substance abuses committed by top competitors in their events."