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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner admitted to anti-doping infractions.

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

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - including her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

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

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

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, awards, championships, participation and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."