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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner acknowledged doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year suspension but the runner's punishment was reduced to three years because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also identified in a test taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, awards, titles, participation and prize money from 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."