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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the Kenyan confessed to doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as the year 2022.

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

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

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

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings from March 14 lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."