Athletics (middle distance) · Ethiopia · ETH-NADO hearing panel (first instance), World Athletics appeal

Diribe Welteji Kejelcha: doping case, ban and appeal

Serving ban CAS imposed a two year ban on 26 February 2026 that ends on 30 June 2027 if served without interruption.^1,2

Violation

Evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection (Article 2.3), at an out of competition test on 25 February 2025^1,2

Results disqualified

All competitive results from 25 February 2025 to the date of the CAS award, which Reuters reported includes her 1500m silver at the 2025 World Indoor Championships

Appeals

• ETH-NADO Hearing Panel (Ethiopia), 12 August 2025: No violation foundThe national hearing panel found no anti-doping rule violation after a hearing on 12 August 2025.¹
• CAS (appeal by World Athletics), 26 February 2026: Upheld in partThe sole arbitrator found a violation, saying she "failed to establish any compelling justification for her failure to submit to sample collection". The failure was found not to be intentional, so the ban was two years rather than the four years World Athletics sought. The start was backdated for a 66 day delay in the formal charge, with credit for seven days of provisional suspension in March 2025.¹

Sources

1. Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS partially upholds appeal by World Athletics against Diribe Welteji Kejelcha, CAS media release 11755 (26 February 2026)
2. Reuters (via Citizen Digital), Welteji banned for two years by CAS for doping violation (27 February 2026)