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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

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

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

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

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

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

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

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, appearance and prize money from 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"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 collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."