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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the runner admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before 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 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit 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 communications from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also found in a test collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, honors, championships, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."