The Athletics Integrity Unit is disputing a decision by Ethiopian officials to clear 1500m runner Diribe Welteji for the failure of refusal to submit a drug test.
Diribe Welteji, the world silver medallist in Budapest in 2023 and world road mile champion in Riga the same year, is in danger of missing the 1500m at this week’s World Championships in Tokyo due to an anti-doping dispute.
The 23-year-0ld, who finished behind Faith Kipyegon in the world 1500m final two years ago, was cleared by the Ethiopian anti-doping authority last month of the failure of refusal to submit a doping sample.
But the Athletics Integrity has now appealed to the Court of Arbritration of Sport (CAS) with a ruling likely to be made before the 1500m heats this Saturday.
Welteji beat Kipyegon in the mile at the World Road Running Champs two years ago and she has a 1500m best of 3:51.44.
The AIU has requested a provisional suspension this week while her doping case is heard.
The AIU said in a statement: “The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the decision of a national hearing panel of the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Authority, dated 27 August 2025, to clear athlete, Diribe Welteji, of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation for a breach of article 2.3 of the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Office Rules (Refusal or Failure to submit to Sample Collection).
“The AIU obtained the case file from the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Organisation on 1 September 2025 and, following review, filed its appeal with CAS on 8 September 2025. As part of the appeal, the AIU has requested provisional measures from CAS declaring the athlete ineligible to compete pending the outcome of the appeal.
“That application will be heard by the CAS Division President who will determine whether Welteji may compete at the forthcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Welteji is entered in the women’s 1500 metres, the heats of which are on Saturday 13 September 2025. A decision is expected from CAS before Saturday.”
British contenders in this event include Laura Muir, Revee Walcott-Nolan and Erin Wallace.
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