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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been banned for 36 months after the runner confessed to doping rule violations.

Chepngetich was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her world record performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a 48-month ban but the runner's punishment was lowered to three years because she confessed to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring messages dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's device to determine if any other violations 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, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on February 28.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had used her domestic worker's medication - labeled as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's doping regulations, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

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

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

"No one is exempt from regulations."

"Although unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is supposed to work."

"Marathon organizers should be commended for jointly supporting doping prevention capable of uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."