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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

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

"This matter concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner admitted the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, honors, titles, participation and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."