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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been suspended for three years after the runner admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that test - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month ban but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to three years because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

"The case regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to ascertain if any other violations have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

Although HCTZ has a lowest detectable limit of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, the athlete's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

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

Chepngetich altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after the runner confessed to the anti-doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The three-year ban commenced on April 19 - when the athlete accepted a temporary ban - with the competitor's performances, honors, championships, appearance and prize money since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."