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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month 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 explanation for the positive test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

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

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, appearance and prize money since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."