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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the runner admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that test - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed 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 reason for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

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

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

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, championships, participation and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"Although unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."