Ethiopia's Tsegay gets four-month ban over positive test for prohibited substance

June 12 : 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) said on Friday.

Ethiopian middle- and long-distance runner Tsegay tested positive for a metabolite of letrozole, which the 29-year-old said she had been prescribed to treat a medical condition.

"Tsegay’s period of Ineligibility will run from 1 June... until 30 September 2026," the AIU said in a statement.

Her competitive results as of December 5 last year have also been disqualified.

Tsegay, who took bronze in the 5,000m in Tokyo, applied for a therapeutic use exemption, or TUE, in February.

"While the conditions for a TUE ... were met, an application to WADA to exceptionally grant a retroactive TUE in this case ... was rejected," the AIU added.