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

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

The athlete's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - including her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as the year 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month 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 failed test.

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

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

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, titles, participation and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."