The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported two anti-doping rule violations against the Ethiopian Athlete Fantu Eticha Jimma for the presence of the prohibited substance Recombinant Erythropoietin (rhEPO):
- In April 2023 regarding her 2nd sample collected in Hong Kong in February 2023;
- In June 2023 regarding her 1st sample collected in Doha, Qatar, in January 2023.
Following the first notification in April 2023 regarding her 2nd sample a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete submitted a statement in her defence. She alleged that she underwent medical treatment in Ethiopia by a doctor in a hospital with medication described to her as vitamins.
Following the second notification in June 2023 regarding her 1st sample the Athlete admitted both anti-doping rule violations, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU.
The AIU determines that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that she did not knowingly had committed the anti-doping rule violations. It also deems that there are aggravating circumstances in this case that justifies the imposition of a sanction of 6 years.
Further the AIU rules that the Athlete's 1st and 2nd positive test result shall be considered as one single anti-doping rule violation. Because the Athlete signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.
Therefore the AIU decides on 26 July 2023 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 4 April 2023.
