Ethiopia to impose lifebans on doping offenders, says Ethiopian Athletics Federation President
Ethiopia athletics federation President, Haile Gebreselassie is recommending lifetime bans for those found guilty of doping in the country. Ethiopia is one of five countries, which remains on the IAAF doping watchlist after the governing body listed it as being in critical care over its drug-testing systems. The country’s dominance in distance running was questioned this year when six of its athletes came under investigation. In an interview with Reuters, Gebreselassie who is considered one of athletics greatest distance runners says his administration has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to doping. The move means Ethiopian athletes who fail tests will no longer be able to represent the country in any competition. This is a stricter punishment to the one currently imposed by the IOC, which gives four-year bans for first time offenders.