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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - such as her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

Although the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also found in a test taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - 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 sport's doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

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

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

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."