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Women's marathon global champion the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.

The athlete's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her global best time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to 36 months because she admitted to the infractions.

However, the AIU will keep examining evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for the substance has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

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

Although HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic under the detection threshold were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her mobile. Meanwhile, contamination had also been ruled out by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after the runner confessed to the doping rule violations inside the 20 days required.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the competitor's results, awards, titles, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."