Gudaf Tsegai Receives Four-Month Doping Suspension

Gudaf Tsegai, a 29-year-old Ethiopian athlete and former world champion, has been handed a four-month doping suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for the prohibited substance letrozol in December 2025. Letrozol, an aromatase inhibitor listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is commonly used to lower estrogen levels and is prescribed for certain medical conditions, including breast cancer.

Tsegai promptly notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding in January and explained that she was prescribed letrozol to treat a diagnosed medical condition, supported by medical documentation. In February, she applied for a therapeutic use exemption from WADA, which was initially granted but later rejected retroactively, leading to a violation of anti-doping rules.

The AIU deemed the four-month suspension appropriate, reflecting Tsegai's degree of fault and the circumstances surrounding the case. The suspension will run from June 1 to September 30, sidelining her from competitions.