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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

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

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, honors, titles, appearance and prize money since March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."