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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan 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 concealing drug - on March 14.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year suspension but the runner's penalty was lowered to three years because she admitted 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 deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed 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 other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

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

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

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

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

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

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering substance abuses committed by elite athletes in their events."