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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

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

The athlete's achievements which pre-date that test - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year ban but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

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

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any other violations have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the positive test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of the diuretic under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample taken from the runner 14 days prior, on February 28.

At a later interview on July 11, the record holder was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her phone. Meanwhile, contamination had also been disproven by the authority.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, stating that she had taken her domestic worker's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

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

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when the athlete agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's performances, honors, championships, appearance and prize money from March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses committed by top competitors in their races."