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Female long-distance global champion the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the runner acknowledged anti-doping infractions.

Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a failed test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a prohibited substance often utilized as a masking agent - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which pre-date that test - including her global best performance of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The sports governing body had requested a 48-month suspension but the runner's punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

However, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from the athlete's mobile device which it found suggest "strong grounds that her positive test may have been deliberate" - featuring communications from as early as 2022.

"This matter regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the unit will continue to investigate the questionable evidence found on Chepngetich's phone to ascertain if any further infractions have taken place."

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 10 minutes, was unable to give an explanation for the positive test.

While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL) in urine, Chepngetich's test showed an approximate level of 3800 ng/mL.

Traces of HCTZ below the detection threshold were also found in a test collected from the runner two weeks earlier, on 28 February.

At a subsequent meeting on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the previously mentioned suspicious evidence obtained from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been ruled out by the AIU.

The athlete altered her story on 31 July, claiming that she had used her domestic worker's pills - marked as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the positive test.

The AIU had "major doubts about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's doping regulations, such "carelessness" is deemed "indirect intent, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An automatic one-year reduction was applied after the runner confessed to the anti-doping rule violations within the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension commenced on 19 April - when the athlete agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, participation and earnings since March 14 lost.

"No one is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the process is supposed to work."

"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations committed by elite athletes in their races."