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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

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

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring communications from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

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

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

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

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

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."