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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the Kenyan admitted 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 masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that sample - including her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample taken from Chepngetich 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, awards, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their races."