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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since March 14 lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."