Thirty-two-year-old Ethiopian distance runner Ruti Aga has been handed a provisional, appealable suspension for doping-related offences, which include testing positive for the banned substance Methylprednisolone and tampering.
The 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion has also finished in the top three at four other marathon majors in Berlin and New York. She owns a 2:18:09 personal best, which she ran twice, once in Dongying, China, in 2023 and in Dubai, UAE, the following year.
Personal bests
| Distance | Result | Location | Year |
| Marathon | 2:18:09 | Dongying, China | 2023 |
| Half marathon | 1:06:39 | Houston, TX | 2018 |
| 10 kms | 31:35 | Tilburg, Netherlands | 2012 |
| 5 kms | 15:46 | Rennes, France | 2014 |
| 10,000m | 33:38.39 | Addis Ababa, Eth | 2013 |
| 5000m | 15:13.48 | Shanghai, China | 2013 |
Methylprednisolone is a glucocorticoid prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) during competition.
She may have been wasting her money.
According to the Library of Medicine post, some studies on short-term glucocorticoids suggest a minor, highly specific improvement in submaximal aerobic endurance (exercise at less than 75 percent of maximum capacity), but others show no benefit.
Methylprednisolone does not increase maximal oxygen uptake (VOâ‚‚ max) or improve high-intensity anaerobic performance. In specific clinical trials involving patients with lung conditions like COPD, methylprednisolone failed to increase overall exercise capacity or improve physical performance.
