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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been banned for three years after the runner confessed to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate 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 keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

While HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a sample taken from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

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

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the context of the athletics' doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

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

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, awards, championships, appearance and prize money from 14 March lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."