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

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

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that sample - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

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

"This matter concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under 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. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed 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 deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

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

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, participation and earnings from 14 March lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."