Marathon Record Holder Chepngetich Given Three-Year Suspension

Female long-distance world record-holder the athlete has been prohibited for 36 months after the Kenyan confessed to anti-doping rule violations.

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 concealing drug - on March 14.

Chepngetich's accomplishments which occurred before that sample - such as her global best performance of 2:09:56 in the Chicago event in October 2024 - will remain valid.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a 48-month suspension but the 31-year-old punishment was reduced to 36 months because she confessed to the violations.

Nonetheless, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's mobile device which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - featuring communications dating back to the year 2022.

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

'No one is exempt from regulations'

When interviewed in the fourth month by the integrity body, Chepngetich, the initial female to complete a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the failed test.

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

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

At a subsequent meeting on July 11, the record holder was shown the previously mentioned questionable proof acquired from her phone. In the meantime, accidental exposure had also been disproven by the authority.

Chepngetich altered her story on July 31, claiming that she had used her housemaid's medication - labeled as being the banned substance - after becoming ill two days before the failed test.

The unit had "serious reservations about the reliability of the new version of events" and, in the framework of the sport's doping rules, such "recklessness" is deemed "implied intention, for which an longer 48-month sanction applies".

An standard 12-month decrease was applied after Chepngetich confessed to the doping breaches inside the 20 days required.

The 36-month suspension started on April 19 - when Chepngetich agreed to a temporary ban - with the runner's performances, honors, championships, appearance and earnings from 14 March forfeited.

"Nobody is above the rules."

"While unfortunate for those who had faith in this runner, this is how the system is designed to operate."

"The road-running industry should be praised for jointly supporting anti-doping efforts able to revealing doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."