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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been suspended for 36 months after the runner confessed to doping infractions.

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

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material found on the runner's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an reason for the failed test.

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

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from the runner two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the context of the sport's doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, honors, titles, participation and prize money since 14 March 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."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for jointly supporting doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."