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Female long-distance global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

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

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, awards, championships, appearance and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their events."