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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - including her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

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

Small amounts of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

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

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.

"No one is above the rules."

"Although 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 capable of uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their races."