Ethiopian marathon runner Ruti Aga banned for six years over fake prescription

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 15:58 · Archive

Ruti Aga, a top marathon runner, has been banned for six years after submitting a fake prescription to explain a positive drug test.

Ruti Aga, a 32-year-old Ethiopian marathon runner ranked 11th in the world at the time, has been banned for six years after submitting a fake prescription to explain a positive drug test. She tested positive for methylprednisolone, a banned steroid used to reduce pain, after winning a half-marathon in China in March. Aga claimed she had been prescribed the substance to treat a knee injury she had suffered since April 2015.

Anti-doping investigators found that the prescription she submitted came from a medical clinic which did not exist and was signed by a family member who had no medical registration. According to the Athletics Integrity Unit, Aga attempted to mislead the investigation by providing false information in an interview in April and produced a forged or manipulated document in May.

Aga was charged with violating three anti-doping regulations but failed to respond to the charges before the deadline. This meant the ban was issued without a hearing. Had she admitted the breaches, she could potentially have reduced her suspension by a year. The ban comprises two years for the positive test and four additional years, to be served consecutively, for tampering with the investigation.

How it is being reported

• Tokyo Marathon winner handed six-year doping ban for submitting fake prescriptionThe Ethiopian was given a two-year ban for using a prohibited substance and an extra four years for tampering with the anti-doping investigationIndependent Sport · 22 Oct, 15:32
• Six-year ban for top marathon runner who submitted fake prescriptionClinic named by Ruti Aga did not exist, testers found Prescription signed by a family member, not a doctor One of the world’s leading marathon runners, Ruti Aga, has been banned for six years after anti-doping investigators found she submitted a fake prescription to explain a failed drug test. The Ethiopian athlete won the Tokyo marathon in 2019 and has reached the podium at the Berlin and New York marathons. She tested positive for the banned substance methylprednisolone after winning a half-marathon in China in March, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Thursday. Continue reading...Guardian Sport · 22 Oct, 13:13

In this story: Ruti Aga · Athletics Integrity Unit · Ethiopia · China · Tokyo

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