Story perspectives

Ruti Aga Gets Six-Year Ban for Steroid Tampering

By Drooid · Oct 22, 2026, 10:40 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ethiopian marathoner Ruti Aga received a six-year ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
The ban follows a positive test for methylprednisolone after she won the Meishan Renshou Half Marathon on March 15, 2026.
Investigators determined she submitted a forged prescription from a fake clinic, signed by an unregistered family member.
AIU imposed a two-year substance violation sanction and a four-year tampering sanction, totaling six years.

History

Historical Context

During the 1998 Tour de France, French police seized steroids, EPO and syringes from Festina soigneur Willy Voet, leading to the detention of nine riders and three officials and prompting the UCI to help establish the World Anti-Doping Agency in December 1999. Decades later, the Athletics Integrity Unit imposed a six-year ban on Ethiopian runner Ruti Aga for a forged methylprednisolone prescription.

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Story summary

Ethiopian marathoner Ruti Aga received a six-year ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
The ban follows a positive test for methylprednisolone after she won the Meishan Renshou Half Marathon on March 15, 2026.
Investigators determined she submitted a forged prescription from a fake clinic, signed by an unregistered family member.
AIU imposed a two-year substance violation sanction and a four-year tampering sanction, totaling six years.

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