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

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

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

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

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

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

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

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, participation and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although unfortunate for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."