Ethiopian distance runner Gudaf Tsegay, a former double world champion, has been issued a four-month doping suspension after she admitted to the presence of a prohibited substance found in an out-of-competition test.

The 29-year-old Ethiopian claimed the women's 5,000m world title in 2022 and the 10,000m crown in 2023, having earlier secured bronze over the shorter distance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Tsegay tested positive for a metabolite of Letrozole, which appears under the category of aromatase inhibitors on the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) prohibited list, during a test in December last year.

Letrozole is used to reduce estrogen levels in the body and serves as a treatment for breast cancer.

Following notification of the finding by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in late January, Tsegay replied the next day to explain that she had received a prescription for Letrozole to address a diagnosed medical condition and supplied supporting medical documents and evidence.

In February, Tsegay filed an application for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) with World Athletics, which later verified that her treatment satisfied Wada's international standard requirements for TUEs.

However, her request for a retroactive TUE based on exceptional circumstances was denied by Wada. She then reached a case resolution agreement with Wada and the AIU.

An AIU statement noted that a four-month ban was viewed as appropriate under regulations relating to no fault or negligence on the part of the athlete.

The sanction length took into account Tsegay's level of fault, her quick admission of the violation, the fact that the presence of Letrozole aligned with Wada's international standards on TUEs, and the acknowledgment that she would have received a TUE if applied for beforehand.

Her period of ineligibility, applied from 1 June, extends until 30 September.