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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's penalty was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the suspicious material recovered from the runner's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'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 positive test.

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

Small amounts 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 subsequent meeting on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

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

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

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."