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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the failed test.

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

Small amounts of the diuretic below the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

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

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

"No one 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 doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."