Tokyo Marathon Champion Ruti Aga Receives Six-Year Ban Over Forged Medical Prescription

Ruti Aga's career as an elite marathoner has come to an abrupt halt after the Athletics Integrity Unit handed the 32-year-old Ethiopian a six-year ban on Thursday. The 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion tested positive for a prohibited steroid and subsequently submitted a forged medical prescription to investigators.[1]

The suspension stems from a post-race test at the Meishan Renshou Half Marathon in China on March 15, 2026, which Aga won with a time of 1:08:04. Her sample revealed the presence of methylprednisolone, a Class S9 glucocorticoid that the World Anti-Doping Agency strictly bans during competition.[1][5]

When initially confronted with the positive drug test, Aga told investigators that she had received the medication in Ethiopia to treat chronic knee pain. To support her defense, she provided AIU representatives with a medical prescription during a May 4 interview, purportedly issued by a doctor at a local clinic.[3]

That defense completely unraveled when the AIU, working alongside the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Authority, investigated the specific clinic named on the provided stationery. Officials quickly discovered that the medical facility did not actually exist, and the document had been entirely fabricated using old letterhead.[6]

Investigators further determined that the individual who signed the prescription was not a registered medical physician. The signatory was instead identified as an unregistered family member of Aga, who later admitted to investigators that they used outdated clinic materials to create the fraudulent document.[1][4]

The tampering charge carries massive consequences under global anti-doping regulations, severely compounding the initial infraction. While the positive test for methylprednisolone triggered a standard two-year suspension, the fabricated prescription added a consecutive four-year penalty to her sentence.[3][5]

Aga, who was ranked 11th in the world at the time of her positive test, failed to respond to the formal charges before the AIU's deadline. Because she offered no further defense or explanation, the six-year ban was finalized and issued without a formal hearing.[1][6]

The suspension effectively erases Aga from the World Marathon Majors circuit until 2032, removing a major contender from the elite women's field. Beyond her Tokyo victory, the Ethiopian distance runner had secured four top-three finishes across the Berlin and New York City marathons, cementing her status as a perennial podium threat.[1]

The AIU emphasized that the severity of the ban reflects a growing commitment to prosecuting athletes who attempt to obstruct the testing process. "Protecting clean competition takes resources, but this case sends a clear message: attempts to cheat will be exposed," AIU chief executive Brett Clothier stated in the official ruling.[1][5]

Aga had been provisionally suspended since September 17, 2026, while the AIU finalized its investigation into the forged paperwork. Her final sanction officially strips her of the Meishan Renshou Half Marathon title and nullifies any prize money earned at the event.[1][3]

The ruling forces a massive reset for the Ethiopian athletics federation, which has faced increasing scrutiny over anti-doping compliance in recent years. With her competitive window now closed for the foreseeable future, the global marathon circuit moves forward without one of its most recognizable veterans.[4]