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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the runner confessed to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that sample - including 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 continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also identified in a test collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, awards, titles, appearance and prize money from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their events."