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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on February 28.

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

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

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the doping breaches within 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, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."