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

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a test taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on February 28.

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

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich admitted the anti-doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

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

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their events."