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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

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

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted 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, titles, participation and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although disappointing for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."