Ethiopian born Aregawi fails drugs test

Former world 1500m champion Abeba Aregawi has tested positive for a banned substance.

The news was confirmed by the sport’s governing body, the IAAF and the Swedish Athletics Federation, who said the 25-year-old had withdrawn from competition following an out-of-competition urine test, believed to be in Addis Adaba in January.

An IAAF spokesman added: “Following notification of the laboratory finding, the athlete has voluntarily withdrawn from competition until the investigations into the laboratory finding are completed. In the meantime, the athlete has requested the analysis of the B sample which will be conducted shortly.

“The IAAF and the Swedish Athletic Federation will not make any further comment until completion of the result management procedure.”

Rumours had been swirling around the sport for several weeks that the Ethiopian-born Aregawi, who has competed for Sweden since 2012, had tested positive.

However it is unusual for a failed athlete’s test to be announced before the B sample has been conducted.

Aregawi, who is also the reigning world indoor 1500m champion and European championship silver medallist, was due to face the world record holder Genzebe Dibaba in a much anticipated race over a mile in Stockholm on 17 February, but pulled out citing a back injury. There were whispers then that the reason was more serious.