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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that test - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

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

However, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, 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 system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention capable of uncovering substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their races."