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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

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

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - such as her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a four-year ban but the runner's penalty was lowered to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, appearance and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."