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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

However, 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" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

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

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."