Gudaf Tsegay, the former two-time world champion from Ethiopia, has received a four-month doping ban after acknowledging the presence of a prohibited substance in her out-of-competition test. The 29-year-old athlete claimed victory in the women's 5,000m world championship in 2022 and the 10,000m title in 2023, while also securing a bronze medal in the shorter distance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In December 2022, Tsegay tested positive for a metabolite of Letrozole, categorized as an aromatase inhibitor by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Letrozole is primarily used to lower estrogen levels and is often prescribed for breast cancer treatment.

Upon being informed of the positive test by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in late January, Tsegay clarified the situation within a day, stating that she had been prescribed Letrozole for a diagnosed medical condition, providing supporting medical documentation.

In February, Tsegay applied for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) from World Athletics, which confirmed her treatment complied with WADA's international standards. However, her request for a retroactive TUE was denied by WADA. Subsequently, she entered a case resolution agreement with WADA and the AIU.

An AIU statement noted that a four-month ban was deemed "appropriate" due to the absence of fault or negligence on Tsegay's part. The sanction length considered her prompt admission of the violation and the likelihood she would have received a TUE if requested in advance. Her period of ineligibility is backdated to 1 June and will last until 30 September.