Two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia has been handed a four-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance letrozole.
The suspension follows an anti-doping test conducted in December last year, which flagged the presence of the substance. Letrozole is strictly prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency as an aromatase inhibitor. While primarily used as a hormone therapy to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer, the drug is also used as an off-label fertility treatment. In sports, it is banned because it can counteract the side effects of anabolic steroids by preventing testosterone from turning into estrogen.
The 29-year-old middle- and long-distance runner is one of the most prominent names in global athletics. Her decorated career includes winning the 5000-metre world title in 2022, the 10 000-metre world title in 2023, and securing an Olympic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She also holds the former world record in the indoor mile.
According to the terms of the ruling, Tsegay’s ban has been backdated to take effect from 1 June and will run through to September 30, 2026. The timing of the four-month sanction effectively sidelines the Ethiopian star for the entirety of the current European summer track season.
–ChannelAfrica–
