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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the AIU will keep examining proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level 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 presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's results, honors, titles, appearance and earnings from 14 March lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their events."