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Women's marathon global champion Ruth Chepngetich has been suspended for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged doping infractions.

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

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

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

Small amounts of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

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

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, awards, titles, participation and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While disappointing for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their events."