Ethiopian Marathoner Ruti Aga Receives Six-Year Ban for Fake Prescription

Elite marathon runner Ruti Aga has been handed a six-year ban from the sport following an investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). The Ethiopian athlete, a past winner of the Tokyo Marathon and a podium finisher in Berlin and New York, tested positive for the banned substance methylprednisolone after a half-marathon in China in March.

Investigators discovered that Aga submitted a fake prescription to justify her failed drug test. The clinic named on the prescription was found to not exist, and the document was reportedly signed by a family member rather than a medical professional. This ruling highlights the strict measures in place to combat doping in athletics and the consequences for athletes attempting to deceive anti-doping authorities.