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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan acknowledged 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 often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which occurred before that sample - such as her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was reduced to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, 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 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from the runner 14 days prior, on 28 February.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month penalty applies".

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

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's results, honors, championships, appearance and prize money since March 14 forfeited.

"No one is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts capable of revealing substance abuses performed by elite athletes in their races."