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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications from as early as 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

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

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

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

"No one is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to uncovering doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."