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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan admitted to doping rule violations.

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

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

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

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

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

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a sample collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich admitted the anti-doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, honors, titles, appearance and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate 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 uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."