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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that test - such as her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to 36 months because she admitted to the violations.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - including 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 questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also found in a test taken from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches inside the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, championships, appearance and earnings from March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

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