ATHLETICS – WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS TOKYO 2025

THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) ISSUES PROVISIONAL MEASURES DECLARING DIRIBE WELTEJI KEJELCHA (ETHIOPIA) TEMPORARILY INELIGIBLE
Lausanne, 12 September 2025 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld a request for provisional measures by World Athletics (WA) against the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Office (ETH-NADO) and middle-distance runner Diribe Welteji Kejelcha (Ethiopia) concerning an alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV). Ms Welteji is declared ineligible to compete in the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025.

Ms Welteji was charged with an ADRV on 21 May 2025 by ETH-NADO for allegedly refusing to provide a sample for an out-of-competition doping control without any justification. A hearing took place on 12 August 2025 before the ETH-NADO Hearing Panel which subsequently found that the Athlete did not commit an ADRV.

World Athletics filed an appeal to CAS on 9 September 2025 against the ETH-NADO Hearing Panel’s decision with a request for provisional measures to be rendered prior to the start of the World Championships in Tokyo. The request for provisional measures has been upheld and Ms Welteji is suspended for the duration of the CAS arbitration procedure.

The Parties are exchanging written proceedings and with their agreement, a hearing will be scheduled. Proceedings whilst ongoing are confidential and CAS is unable to provide additional information until the alleged ADRV is further examined.

This is an unofficial summary for media use.