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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the runner acknowledged doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that test - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

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

"This matter concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (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 test collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

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

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

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, appearance and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody 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 commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their events."