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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

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

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a sample collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after the runner admitted the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, participation and prize money since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."