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

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining evidence from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

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

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

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

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

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, participation and prize money since March 14 lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

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