The previous world 5000m and 10,000m champion will miss the 2026 monitor season after testing constructive for Letrozole, which she was taking to deal with a recognized medical situation.
Ethiopian endurance runner Gudaf Tsegay has been given a four-month ban after testing constructive for Letrozole however efficiently – and considerably belatedly – arguing that she was utilizing it to deal with a real medical situation.
The 29-year-old, who has gained world titles at 5000m and 10,000m and damaged world information for 5000m and the indoor mile, was in a position to produce the medical papers to assist her case, which led to a four-month ban being agreed as an alternative of an extended punishment.
Letrozol lowers estrogen ranges within the physique.
The Athletics Integrity Unit says Tsegay has been banned „beneath a Case Decision Settlement, after admitting to Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence of a metabolite of Letrozole“.
The AIU provides: „The 29-year-old Ethiopian was sanctioned beneath Rule 2.1 of the Anti-Doping Guidelines (ADR) regarding the Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Pattern, and Rule 2.2 regarding Use or Tried Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Technique.
„Tsegay’s interval of Ineligibility will run from 1 June – the date the athlete accepted the Case Decision Settlement – till 30 September 2026.“
The AIU provides: „Following an out-of-competition take a look at on 5 December final yr, Tsegay returned a constructive take a look at for a metabolite of Letrozole – a Specified Prohibited Substance prohibited always beneath the WADA 2025 Prohibited Record beneath the class of S4.1 Aromatase Inhibitors. She was subsequently notified of the potential ADRV by the AIU on 26 January 2026 and responded a day later explaining that she had been prescribed Letrozole to deal with a recognized medical situation. She additionally produced supporting medical paperwork and proof.
„On 17 February 2026, Tsegay submitted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) software to the World Athletics Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (WATUEC), which subsequently confirmed that the athlete’s therapy met the necessities of Article 4.2 of the World Anti-Doping Company’s (WADA) Worldwide Normal for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE).
„Underneath Article 4.2, a TUE is granted if the athlete reveals the prohibited substance is required to deal with a recognized medical situation; there isn’t a cheap permitted therapeutic various; and the therapeutic use of the Prohibited Substance is not going to produce any further efficiency enhancement past a return to a traditional state of well being following therapy.
„Whereas the circumstances for a TUE beneath Article 4.2 had been met, an software to WADA to exceptionally grant a retroactive TUE on this case beneath Article 4.3 ISTUE was rejected. Tsegay subsequently entered a Case Decision Settlement with the AIU and WADA, and a four-month ban was thought of applicable beneath Rule 10.6.1(a) ADR (No Important Fault or Negligence). The size of the sanction was based mostly on Tsegay’s diploma of Fault, her immediate admission of the ADRV, and the very fact she demonstrated that the presence of the metabolite of Letrozole in her pattern met the standards of Article 4.2, which means she would have acquired a TUE if it had been requested prematurely.“
