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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - including her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

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

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

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, championships, appearance and earnings from March 14 lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their events."