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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

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

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

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a test collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, awards, championships, participation and prize money from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention able to revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."