Athletics/ AIU seeks suspension of Diribe Welteji ahead of World Championships
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has requested the provisional suspension of Ethiopian runner Diribe Welteji, the reigning 1500m world silver medalist, just two days before her event at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Welteji was cleared in late August by the Ethiopian anti-doping agency after being accused of refusing or failing to submit to a doping test.
However, the AIU which received the case file on September 1 has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking her immediate suspension pending a full review.
The AIU publicly announced its request on social media, stating that Welteji should be ruled ineligible for the Tokyo championships. CAS is expected to issue a decision before Saturday, when the women’s 1500m qualifying rounds are scheduled to begin.
Welteji won silver in the 1500m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Her potential suspension adds further drama to an event already under intense scrutiny amid ongoing efforts to ensure fair competition.
The case highlights continued tensions between national anti-doping bodies and global oversight organizations in the enforcement of anti-doping protocols.
