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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been prohibited for three years after the runner admitted to anti-doping rule violations.

The record holder was temporarily banned in the seventh month following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on 14 March.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's phone to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in the fourth month by the integrity body, the marathoner, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also identified in a sample collected from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the authority.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on July 31, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner admitted the anti-doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban commenced on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, participation and earnings since 14 March lost.

"Nobody is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations performed by top competitors in their events."