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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that sample - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year ban but the runner's punishment was reduced to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, 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 sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich admitted the anti-doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, honors, championships, appearance and earnings from 14 March lost.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While 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 praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."