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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping infractions.

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

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - including her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

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

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

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

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

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after the runner admitted the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, championships, participation and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their events."