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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been suspended for three years after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from the runner's device to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility 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 is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner confessed to the anti-doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's results, awards, championships, appearance and earnings since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."