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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that test - such as her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

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

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "strong grounds that her positive test may have been intentional" - including communications from as early as the year 2022.

"The case concerning the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, stating that she had used her housemaid's pills - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping rules, such "carelessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's results, awards, titles, participation and prize money from March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"While unfortunate for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is designed to operate."

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