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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

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

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

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the detection threshold 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 previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the anti-doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, participation and prize money from March 14 lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While disappointing for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."