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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a four-year ban but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a test taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

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

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, participation and earnings since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."