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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged 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 concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

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

Nonetheless, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions 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, could not provide an reason for the positive test.

Although 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.

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

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had used 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 credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an increased four-year penalty applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner confessed to the anti-doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on April 19 - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, appearance and prize money since March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention able to revealing doping violations committed by top competitors in their events."