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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been banned 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 banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that sample - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her domestic worker's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, participation and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."