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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that test - such as her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year ban but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner admitted the anti-doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."