Distance-running great Haile Gebrselassie, who was elected head of the EAF, last month told Reuters his administration has adopted a “zero tolerance” approach toward doping.

“Our stand is no excuse toward someone who has cheated. As of today, any athlete who has offended will be hit by a life ban,” he said.

The move means Ethiopian athletes who fail tests and are subject to a four-year ban from Dec. 28 onwards will no longer be able to represent the country in any competition.

The punishment is much stricter than the one currently imposed by the International Olympic Committee whose rules stipulate that athletes caught doping can face four-year bans but after serving it they are eligible to compete in any international event, including the Olympics.

Haile said his aim was to convince the sport’s world governing body that Ethiopia was serious in tackling doping and for it to be removed from the list of countries identified by IAAF president Sebastian Coe as in need of “critical care”.

Source: Reuters