Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay has been hit with a four-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance in December, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has said.
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.
Due to the ban she will miss all remaining lucrative Diamond League meets as well as the inaugural Ultimate Championships in mid-September.
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.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics she ran in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m but did not medal.
