{
  "id": 17938170,
  "title": "4 Ethiopian athletes handed bans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/4-ethiopian-athletes-handed-bans",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T08:57:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghanaian Times",
    "slug": "ghanaian-times",
    "url": "https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/4-ethiopian-athletes-handed-bans/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Testing Agency (ITA) has handed out disciplinary actions to four Ethiopian athletes for various violations. The most severe punishment was given to Mosisa Siyoum, who received an eight-year ban for evidence tampering after testing positive for erythropoietin, a substance that raises red blood cell production. Typically, a four-year ban is imposed for this type of drug violation; however, the increased sentence is due to evidence tampering being considered an aggravating factor. Siyoum tested positive for the banned substance during a competition in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia on December 13, 2025.\n\nIn addition to Siyoum, three other Ethiopian athletes were disciplined by the ITA. Hunde Lechisa, a 21-year-old distance runner, was provisionally suspended after testing positive for testosterone. Lechisa admitted to the violation, leading to a reduced ban from four years to three. Gelaye Atinkut, a 27-year-old athlete, received a four-month ban for testing positive for methylprednisolone in an out-of-competition test. Lastly, Sofiya Shemsu Chegen, 32, was also banned after testing positive for methylprednisolone; her suspension began on August 27. The ITA allowed for the possibility of appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where cases could be reviewed and potentially amended.",
  "summary": "Mosisa Siyoum received the harshest punishment, an eight-year ban for evidence tampering, while the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced disciplinary measures against four boxers and one other fighter, all for whereabouts failures. The severe sanction imposed on Siyoum came to light after he tested positive for erythropoietin, a substance that stimulates the production of red … The post 4…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}