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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner confessed to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that sample - including 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 48-month ban but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 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 two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, championships, appearance and prize money from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their events."