Gudaf Tsegay receives four-month doping ban

Ethiopian distance running star Gudaf Tsegay has been suspended from competition for four months after testing positive for a prohibited substance, track and field's Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Friday, June 12, 2026. The sanction, which runs from June 1 until September 30, will cause the Olympic bronze medalist and four-time world champion to miss the remainder of the current season, including all Diamond League meets and the inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest in mid-September.

Tsegay, 29, tested positive for a metabolite of letrozole from an out-of-competition sample collected on December 5, 2025. Letrozole is a prohibited substance at all times under the World Anti-Doping Agency code. The athlete stated the substance was prescribed by her doctor as part of fertility treatment, and she is currently pregnant with her first child. She provided supporting medical documentation after being notified of the positive test on January 26, 2026.

In February, Tsegay applied for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption, which would have permitted the use of the substance for a verified medical condition. Authorities confirmed that her treatment met the necessary medical...