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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

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

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

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

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, honors, titles, participation and earnings since March 14 lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention capable of uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."