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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for three years after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that test - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts 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 Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, awards, championships, participation and earnings since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their events."