Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay has been handed a four-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance in December, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed on Friday.
The Ethiopian middle- and long-distance runner tested positive for a metabolite of letrozole, a substance she said was prescribed to treat a medical condition.
According to the Athletics Integrity Unit, Tsegay’s period of ineligibility will run from 1 June to 30 September 2026. Her competitive results from 5 December 2025 have also been disqualified.
Tsegay, who won bronze in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics, had applied for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) in February following the test result.
While officials noted that the conditions for a TUE were met, a request submitted to the World Anti-Doping Agency for a retroactive exemption was ultimately rejected.
The AIU said the case was handled in line with anti-doping regulations governing prohibited substances and medical exemptions in athletics.
Tsegay remains one of Ethiopia’s most decorated distance runners, having won multiple world titles and established herself as a leading figure in women’s middle- and long-distance events.
The suspension marks a setback in her career as she joins a growing list of elite athletes sanctioned under anti-doping rules in recent years.
