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Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been banned for three years after the runner confessed to doping infractions.

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

Chepngetich's achievements which occurred before that test - such as her world record performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in 2024 - will remain valid.

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

However, the AIU will keep examining proof from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including communications dating back to 2022.

"The case concerning the positive test for the substance has been settled, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from the runner's device to determine if any further infractions have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.

Although the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

At a later interview on 11 July, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. Meanwhile, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping regulations, such "carelessness" is considered "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction is applicable".

An automatic one-year reduction was granted after Chepngetich admitted the doping rule violations within the specified 20-day period.

The three-year ban started on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, awards, titles, participation and earnings from March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of revealing doping violations performed by elite athletes in their races."