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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds 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 settled, 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 April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, awards, championships, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this athlete, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering substance abuses committed by top competitors in their events."