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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich 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 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted 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 positive test may have been intentional" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter 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."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

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

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had taken her housemaid's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches within the 20 days required.

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

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their events."