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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan confessed to doping infractions.

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

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 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 admitted to the infractions.

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

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being the banned substance - 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 context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, participation and prize money from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

"While disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their events."