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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the runner confessed to doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

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

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

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

Traces of the diuretic below the detection threshold were also found in a sample taken from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

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

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations inside the specified 20-day period.

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

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"Although disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."