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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that sample - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

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

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with 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, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed 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 regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

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

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."