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Women's marathon world record-holder the athlete has been suspended for three years after the runner admitted to doping infractions.

The record holder was temporarily banned in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that sample - including her world record time of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had sought a four-year suspension but the 31-year-old penalty was lowered to three years because she confessed to the infractions.

However, the integrity unit will continue to investigate proof from the athlete's phone which it found suggest "strong grounds that her failed test may have been intentional" - featuring communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter concerning the failed test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will keep looking into the questionable evidence found on the runner's device to ascertain if any further infractions have occurred."

'Nobody is above the rules'

When interviewed in April by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 ng/mL in urine, the athlete's sample showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Small amounts of HCTZ under the minimal reporting level were also found in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

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

The athlete changed her explanation on 31 July, stating that she had used her domestic worker's pills - labeled as being the banned substance - after falling sick two days before the positive test.

The AIU had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the context of the athletics' anti-doping rules, such "carelessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month penalty is applicable".

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

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

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"The road-running industry should be commended for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to uncovering substance abuses performed by top competitors in their races."