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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner confessed to doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner confessed to the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, honors, championships, participation and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."