Aga banned for fake prescription from family member

Sign InSportsAga banned for fake prescription from family memberBy Stacy Boit · October 23, 2026 · 1 min readSponsored AdEthiopian marathon runner and 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion Ruti Aga has been handed a six-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

The suspension consists of a two-year ban for testing positive for methylprednisolone, a WADA-prohibited steroid used to reduce inflammation, and an additional four-year ban for tampering with evidence and misleading investigators.

Aga tested positive for the banned substance after winning a half marathon in China in March. Provisionally suspended since September 10, her six-year ban will run from that date.

During the investigation, Aga attributed the positive test to treatment for a knee injury. She submitted a prescription from a clinic that did not exist, which was allegedly issued by a “doctor” who turned out to be a family member without medical registration.

According to the AIU, when investigators questioned the family member, the individual claimed to use an old prescription pad from a former workplace. However, that clinic confirmed that the person had never worked there and that the prescription did not belong to them.

In addition to her 2019 Tokyo Marathon victory, the 32-year-old Aga has finished second three times at World Marathon Majors.