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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from the runner's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

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

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

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

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their races."