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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 the seventh month following a positive test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that test - such as her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in the Chicago event in 2024 - will still stand.

The sports governing body had requested a four-year ban but the 31-year-old penalty was reduced to three years because she admitted to the violations.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found suggest "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring communications dating back to 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's phone to determine if any other violations have taken place."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When questioned in April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While the substance has a lowest detectable limit of 20 ng/mL in samples, the athlete's test showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/mL.

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

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

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill 48 hours prior to the failed test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the revised account" and, in the framework of the athletics' doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich admitted the doping breaches within the specified 20-day period.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, participation and earnings since March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding doping prevention able to uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."