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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the runner admitted to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the detection threshold were also identified in a test collected from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 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 athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the anti-doping breaches within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, championships, participation and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"Although disappointing for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their races."