The athlete Diribe Weltaji has been suspended from competition by the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) due to non-compliance with the rules for providing a doping sample in February 2025. The sanction takes effect from July 8, 2025, and will last until June 30, 2027.
According to the court ruling, all of Weltaji's achievements since February 25, 2025, have been annulled, including the silver medal won at the indoor world championship in Nanjing in the 1500 meters. However, the medal obtained at the outdoor world championship in 2023 remains in her possession.
During the proceedings, the court noted that the athlete did not intend to violate the rules, although she was unable to provide convincing explanations for her absence during the doping control. Initially, the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Agency (ETH-NADO) found no violations; however, World Athletics appealed this decision to CAS, demanding a four-year ban.
Thus, Weltaji will be able to return to international competitions only in the summer of 2027, which leaves her a chance to qualify for the world championship in Beijing.
