Ethiopian athlete Zerfe Wondemagegn who was a Tokyo Olympic 3,000-meter steeplechase finalist has been banned for five years after testing positive for two banned substances.
A ruling published by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Monday found that samples she submitted contained traces of testosterone and EPO, which helps athletes’ blood transport oxygen more efficiently.
The AIU’s said it was “convinced” that the anti-inflammatory drug violated doping rules, although it said it received correspondence from the athlete’s doctor saying Wondemagun was given EPO to treat severe anemia and a kidney infection.
The organization added that it received a signed admission form from the athlete.
Wondemagegn finished a distant eighth at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but narrowly missed the podium two years later at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, placing fourth.
She is the latest in a series of doping cases involving long-distance runners.
The AIU had earlier announced a three-year ban for Kenyan road runner Celestine Chepchirchir, who tested positive for testosterone.