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Women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for 36 months after the runner admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that test - including her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also identified in a test taken from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner admitted the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, participation and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their events."