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

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - including her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as the year 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, 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 HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces 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, the record holder was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

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

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner confessed to the anti-doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, participation and earnings from March 14 lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their races."