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

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - such as 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 four-year suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's device to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired 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 housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, championships, participation and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."