Olympic medallist and two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay has been handed a four-month doping ban, track and field authorities announced on Friday, effectively bringing her season to an early close.
The 29-year-old Ethiopian, a prominent figure who once held the indoor world record in the women’s 1,500 metres, was found to have failed to seek advance permission for a medication used to treat a diagnosed health condition, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) stated.
The AIU confirmed Tsegay tested positive for Letrozole last December. While she later provided "supporting medical documents and evidence”, the AIU acknowledged she "would have received a (therapeutic use exemption) if it had been requested in advance."
Her suspension, lasting until September, means Tsegay will miss all remaining Diamond League meetings and the inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest from 11-13 September.
Tsegay's distinguished career includes world championship titles in the 5,000 metres (2022) and 10,000 metres (2023), alongside an Olympic bronze in the 5,000 metres at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she competed in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metre events but did not secure a medal.
Letrozole is a substance primarily used in the treatment of breast cancer for postmenopausal women, and it can also be employed to control the effects of steroid use.
The same substance led to a ban for Italian tennis player Sara Errani in 2017.
Tsegay is now likely to turn her focus to the 2027 season, when the World Championships are due to be held in Beijing, China in September.
It will then be the Olympics in 2028, with Los Angeles hosting the Games for the first time since 1984.
The US also staged the Olympics in 1996 when Atlanta was chosen as the host city for the historic 100th anniversary of the Games.
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