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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the runner admitted to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to three years because she admitted to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the suspicious material found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before 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 "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, honors, titles, participation and prize money since 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust 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 doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."