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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

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

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, awards, championships, participation and prize money since March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

"Although disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."