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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

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

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, championships, participation and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."