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Female long-distance world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the runner confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

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

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the detection threshold were also identified in a test collected from the runner 14 days prior, 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 disproven by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, appearance and earnings since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their races."