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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

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

"The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, 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 minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner admitted the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's results, honors, championships, appearance and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."