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

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample taken from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

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

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, awards, championships, appearance and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the process is supposed to work."

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