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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete 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 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before 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 deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the anti-doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, championships, participation and prize money since March 14 lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention able to revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."