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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the runner confessed to anti-doping infractions.

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

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - including her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

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

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, honors, titles, appearance and prize money since March 14 lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their races."