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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner acknowledged doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - 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 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's device to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, 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 samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after the runner admitted the doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."