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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - such as her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's device to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While 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 sample collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner confessed to the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, awards, championships, appearance and prize money from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their events."