The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced the suspensions of four athletes for doping-related violations: Ethiopians Gelaye Atinkut, Mosisa Siyoum and Sofiya Shemsu Chegan, and Uzbekistan’s Doston Rajabov.
Siyoum received an eight-year ban, effective May 5, 2026. The middle-distance runner specialized in the 1,500 metres but did not represent Ethiopia in international competition.
Siyoum tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a performance-enhancing substance that stimulates red blood cell production. He was also charged with tampering, or attempted tampering, with the doping control process.
His urine sample was collected on Feb. 21, 2026, and a blood sample the following day, both in Toruń, Poland. The urine sample was reported to contain EPO by an accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Siyoum claimed he had lost consciousness at home and was taken to a medical facility. He submitted documentation to support his account, but the AIU determined that the documents were false. The health-care provider’s name did not match the signature on the paperwork.
Following two in-person interviews with the athlete and inquiries with the health centre, the AIU determined that Siyoum had not attended the facility on the date stated in the documentation.
Two Ethiopian athletes receive four-month bans
Sofiya Shemsu Chegan received a four-month suspension after testing positive for methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid. She had sought and received a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), but the substance had been used before the exemption was approved.
Chegan admitted fault, resulting in a reduced suspension from the potential four-year ban. Her suspension began Aug. 27, 2026.
Gelaye Atinkut received the same four-month suspension for the same substance and for similar circumstances involving a retroactive TUE.
She is a 32-year-old distance runner with a marathon best of 2:27:51.
Uzbek shot-putter receives five-year ban
Doston Rajabov, a male shot putter from Uzbekistan, tested positive at the Asian Beach Games in April 2026.
His sample contained DHCMT and drostanolone, both anabolic steroids, along with their metabolites. The findings were classified as an adverse analytical finding involving non-specified substances.
Rajabov received a five-year suspension effective Sept. 17, 2026. The decision is appealable to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Rajabov accepted the suspension and maintained that the violation was unintentional. However, the presence of multiple prohibited substances complicates his case.
