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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken 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 acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed 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 rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, honors, championships, participation and prize money since March 14 lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

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