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

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions 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 less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, the athlete's test showed an approximate level 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 July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

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

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."