An ongoing doping dispute involving Ethiopian middle-distance runner Diribe Welteji, a potential World Athletics Championships medallist in Tokyo, has resulted in her suspension from competition, which begins Saturday.
The dispute involved Welteji’s alleged refusal or failure to provide a doping sample earlier this season; the athlete was cleared by the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Authority on Aug. 27, but the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In the meantime, it asked that the athlete be suspended from competing, pending the CAS’s decision, and this request has been upheld by the CAS division president, resulting in Welteji’s suspension.
The Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) application for provisional measures has been upheld by the CAS Division President and Ethiopian athlete, Diribe Welteji, has been suspended, pending the outcome of the AIU’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). pic.twitter.com/5mdqZLZX2P
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) September 12, 2025
She was scheduled to race in both the 1,500m and 800m events in Tokyo.
Welteji has not competed since the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in early July, where she placed second in the women’s 1,500m to Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, who set a new world record.
Welteji finished fourth in the women’s 1,500m at the Paris Olympics in 2024, and currently holds the third-fastest time of 2025 with her 3:51.44 clocking at the Prefontaine Classic (Eugene Diamond League). The 23-year-old was undoubtedly a medal contention favourite in Tokyo, alongside Kenya’s Kipyegon, who has won gold at the last two world championships.
Ethiopian medal favourite could face DQ from World Championships
The heats of the women’s 1,500m are scheduled for 6:50 a.m. Saturday morning local time (7:50 p.m. Friday, E.T.). The women’s 800m heats will go on Sept. 18.
