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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged doping rule violations.

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

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that test - including her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, 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 lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

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

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

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

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, participation and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."