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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been suspended for three years after the runner admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU 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 questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. In the meantime, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

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

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, appearance and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."