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

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations 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 explanation for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 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 athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, appearance and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."