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Zerfe Wondemagegn, who competes for Ethiopia in the 3000m steeplechase, has been suspended for five years due to doping and testosterone. This now has ruled her out of the Paris Olympics 2024 and Los Angeles Olympics 2028.
At the World Championships 2023 in Budapest, Wondemagegn finished fourth with a time of 9:05.51, behind third-placed Faith Cherotich (9:00.69). However, in October 2023, she received a temporary ban because of the presence of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) in her provided sample.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), established by the International Association of Athletics Federations (now World Athletics) to fight doping in Athletics, took to X to share the news on the suspension of the Ethiopian distance runner. They captioned the post:
“The AIU has banned Zerfe Wondemagegn (Ethiopia) for 5 years from 20 October 2023 for Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (EPO, Testosterone).”
In August 2023, Zerfe Wondemagegn gave her blood and first urine sample out-of-competition in Budapest. Her second urine sample was collected out-of-competition in Oromia/Legetafo, Ethiopia, in September 2023.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recognized laboratory located in Siebersdorf, Austria, reported in October 2023 about the presence of EPO, resulting in her getting provisionally suspended by the World Athletics.
Later in November 2023, another WADA-accredited lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, revealed the presence of testosterone in her second sample.
After the AIU’s issuance of notice with charges of anti-doping rule violations, the unit received several e-mails from Wondemagegn’s doctor Asrat. He stated that the Wondemagegn had been given EPO for her treatment as the athlete was diagnosed with severe anemia and pyelonephritis (kidney infection) without the athlete’s knowledge about what the medicine contained.
As a result, the AIU concluded that the athlete had violated Anti-Doping Rules. The body gave her a five-year suspension, starting from October 20, 2023. They also disqualified her World Athletics Championships 2023 performance, where she finished fourth, and results from August 22, 2023.
A look at Zerfe Wondemagegn’s career highlights
Zerfe Wondemagegn represented Ethiopia at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 where she came in eighth with a timing of 9:16.41 in the final of the 3000m steeplechase. She also bagged a silver medal at the African Championships 2022, clocking a 9:41.37.
In addition to this, she won silver in the World U20 Championships in 2021 in the same discipline where she registered a time of 9:35.22. She owns a personal best of 9:04.61 in her signature event.
