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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned 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 - such as her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as 2022.

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

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

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

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted 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 runner's performances, awards, championships, participation and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although unfortunate for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their events."