The Court of Arbitration for Sport has sided with the Athletics Integrity Unit and Ethiopian star Diribe Weleteji, the 2023 World Championship silver medalist at 1500m, has been provisionally suspended and will not be able to compete at the 2025 World Championships.

Full announcement:

“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.”

What It Means

Faith Kipyegon becomes an even bigger favorite for the win as the second-fastest woman in the field is now out. Medal prospects for Jess Hull, Nelly Chepchirchir and Nikki Hiltz have increased. The first round of the 1500m is on Saturday.