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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been suspended for three years after the runner admitted to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic often utilized as a concealing drug - on March 14.

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that sample - such as her global best time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will keep examining proof from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - including messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the unit will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any further infractions have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the integrity body, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the detection threshold were also found in a test collected from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the AIU.

Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".

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 Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's results, awards, championships, appearance and earnings since 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."