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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic 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 Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to three years because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as the year 2022.

"The case regarding the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's phone to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was shown the aforementioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete changed her explanation on July 31, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - 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 sport's doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was granted after Chepngetich confessed to the anti-doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, appearance and prize money since March 14 lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While 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 able to uncovering doping violations committed by top competitors in their races."