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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner admitted the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, titles, appearance and prize money from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."