By Senayit Belete | The Voice of Women Sport
November 7, 2026 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — Ethiopian athletics is confronting renewed questions over the integrity of its anti-doping system following a series of sanctions against prominent runners and alarming disclosures about the reliability of evidence submitted during doping investigations.
The latest concerns emerged after Ethiopian Anti-Doping Authority Director General Mekonnen Yidersal revealed that approximately 89 percent of evidence submitted by athletes in doping-related cases was considered unreliable or fabricated.
According to an interview published by The Reporter on November 2, the authority is handling approximately 18 cases this year, with several investigations still ongoing.
High-Profile Athletes Face Serious Sanctions
The disclosure follows sanctions against several Ethiopian athletes, including former Tokyo Marathon champion Ruti Aga, who received a six-year ban for an anti-doping violation and tampering with evidence.
The Athletics Integrity Unit found that Aga had submitted a falsified medical prescription in an attempt to explain a positive test for methylprednisolone.
In another significant case, middle-distance runner Mosisa Siyoum received an eight-year ban involving the prohibited substance erythropoietin (EPO) and tampering with the anti-doping process.
The cases have brought renewed attention to the responsibilities of athletes, medical professionals, coaches and sporting institutions.
Questions Over Medical Evidence and Accountability
Ethiopia’s anti-doping authorities have indicated that investigations are extending beyond individual competitors to examine the possible involvement of medical personnel, pharmacists and others suspected of facilitating prohibited practices.
The authority is also developing a registration platform intended to improve oversight of athletes and sports professionals.
For a country whose international sporting reputation has been built on generations of outstanding distance runners, the latest developments raise important questions about athlete education, medical supervision and institutional accountability.
Protecting the Future of Ethiopian Athletics
The challenge facing Ethiopian athletics is not only to sanction violations after they occur, but to strengthen prevention, protect athletes from improper medical practices and restore confidence in the systems responsible for safeguarding clean competition.
As investigations continue, the effectiveness of Ethiopia’s response will be measured by the transparency of its procedures, the fairness of its enforcement and its ability to prevent further violations.
For Ethiopia’s next generation of athletes, preserving the credibility of the country’s sporting achievements will depend on a system that protects clean competitors while ensuring that violations are investigated fairly and thoroughly.
The Voice of Women Sport | Athletics & Anti-Doping Investigation
