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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the runner acknowledged doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that test - including her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

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

However, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

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

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

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their events."