Berehanu Tsegu – EPO positive at 2019 Copenhagen Half Marathon.
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Who: Berehanu Wendemu Tsegu, born September 30, 1999, from Ethiopia.
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Event: After finishing second at the 2019 Copenhagen Half Marathon, his samples tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a powerful red‑blood‑cell booster (Wikipedia).
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Outcome: He initially contested the result, but eventually admitted the violation.
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In March 2020, Tsegu received a four‑year ban and all his results since the event were annulled (Wikipedia).
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Context: The case emerged against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny by World Athletics on East African runners, prompting widespread anti-doping education initiatives (Wikipedia).
Why the mix‑up with “Copenhagen Marathon champion”?
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The Copenhagen Marathon and Copenhagen Half Marathon are separate events. Tsegu’s positive came at the half marathon—not the full marathon.
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No credible sources—news agencies, athletic federations, or doping records—mention a Copenhagen Marathon champion being suspended for EPO as of July 2025.
What you should know
Topic |
Details |
|---|---|
Copenhagen Marathon |
A major annual race in Denmark (full 42.2 km), but no doping suspensions reported in 2025. |
Copenhagen Half Marathon |
The event tied directly to Tsegu’s case, with his silver‑medal performance nullified. |
EPO |
A banned substance used to boost red blood cell count—enhancing endurance and stamina. Tests for EPO have strengthened in recent years, contributing to more out‑of‑competition catches like Tsegu’s. |
Aftermath |
Tsegu’s ban began March 2020. As of now, he’s ineligible until at least 2024. There’s no evidence of a similar case at the full marathon level. |
So, is there a recent champion suspended?
No—there’s been no suspension of a recent Copenhagen Marathon champion for EPO.
You might be thinking of Tsegu’s case from the half marathon, but that was in 2019, not at the full marathon and not a marathon champion per se.
Broader context: Doping in distance running
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East Africa, especially Kenya and Ethiopia, has seen a wave of doping cases in recent years—runners like Marius Kipserem (three‑year ban for EPO), Sheila Chelangat, and Brimin Kipkorir have been suspended (The Guardian, Athletics Weekly, BBC).
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The Athletics Integrity Unit has ramped up both in-competition and out-of-competition testing, targeting elite marathoners and half-marathoners for EPO and masking agents.
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Tsegu’s case, while older, fits the pattern of rigorous scrutiny post-2018 to maintain race integrity.
TL;DR:
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Berehanu Tsegu (Ethiopian) was suspended for EPO after the 2019 Copenhagen Half Marathon, receiving a four-year ban (AP News, Wikipedia).
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No Copenhagen Marathon champion—full distance—has been suspended for EPO recently.
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If you’re thinking of a similar-sounding case, it’s likely Tsegu’s or one of the many doping cases from Kenya or Ethiopia during that period.
If you had a specific name or year in mind, I can look deeper to verify. Let me know!
