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

The record holder was provisionally suspended in the seventh month following a failed test for a banned substance - a prohibited substance used commonly as a masking agent - on March 14.

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

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the runner's punishment was reduced to three years because she admitted to the infractions.

Nonetheless, the integrity unit will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her failed test may have been intentional" - including communications dating back to the year 2022.

"This matter regarding the failed test for HCTZ has been settled, but the AIU will keep looking into the questionable evidence recovered from the runner's device to determine if any other violations have occurred."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When questioned in April by the AIU, the marathoner, the initial female to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an reason for the failed test.

While the substance has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in samples, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3,800 ng/mL.

Traces of the diuretic below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, the record holder was shown the aforementioned questionable proof obtained from her mobile. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZ - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The unit had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's anti-doping regulations, such "recklessness" is deemed "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 19 April - when Chepngetich agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension - with the competitor's results, awards, championships, participation and earnings from March 14 forfeited.

"Nobody is exempt from regulations."

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

"Marathon organizers should be praised for collectively funding doping prevention able to revealing substance abuses committed by top competitors in their events."