AIU Appeals Welteji Decision – Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)

11 SEPTEMBER, MONACO: 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.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS INTEGRITY UNIT

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the independent body created by the World Athletics that manages all integrity issues – both doping and non-doping – for the sport of athletics. The remit of the AIU includes anti-doping, the pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation, investigating fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detecting other misconduct including bribery and breaches of betting rules.

It is the AIU’s role to drive cheats out of our sport, and to do everything within its power to support honest athletes around the world who dedicate their lives to reaching their sporting goals through dedication and hard work.

Source: Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)