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

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

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that test - including her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof 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 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, the athlete's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic below the detection threshold were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

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

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."