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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment 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 deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

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

Small amounts of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample collected from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

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

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the anti-doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, participation and earnings since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."