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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner admitted to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - including her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to the year 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on the runner's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' 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 admitted the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, championships, participation and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."