How about checking who her agent is from her World Athletics profile before writing a post linking her to athletes she's got nothing to do with?
Yes Dedefo group, and Monica Pont Chafer as agent. She reps big stars like Wanyonyi, and Kejelcha.
Obviously, really hope this specific group is clean as it has many of the best marathoners in the world who’ve been a fixture at the podiums of the Olympics and the majors.
It's hard to know how to react to this. I don't follow the road scene as closely as the track, but it's bizarre when someone I've never heard of blasts this kind of time.
For others who didn't know who Tesfay was, here's her resume:
Age 28 (born February 1998)
PRs of 8:41 - 14:28 - 29:42 (road) - 63:21
7th and 8th in the 10,000m in Paris '24 and Tokyo '25
She is #3 all-time in the half, though that performance was overshadowed at the time by Ngetich's 63:04 in the same race. For reference, World Athletics' scoring tables correlate Tesfay's half PB with a 2:14:10 full marathon. It does seem she gets better further up in distance, but this is still pretty shocking.
Is she clean? The problem with women's athletics is that there's simply a wider talent spread than men. That makes it harder to assess what's within the "normal" range of believability. Though running this performance in a debut seems suspect.
Tesfay's extraordinary performance should be a major story. It is the #2 women's marathon of all time, second only to a known doper. It is a time that would have been inconceivable even five years ago.
But the story is being largely ignored -- not just in the media at large but even here at letsrun.com, a site for distance running afficiandos.
I suspect that most of us are pretty jaded at this point. Ho hum, another possble doper African runs an incredible marathon.
The fact that people are reacting this way is a major problem for our sport.
is that the new standard? Guilty until proven innocent? How long do we have to wait, in your view, before this performance warrants recognition?
Would you apply the same standard to emerging American standouts such as Cooper Lutkenhaus and Ethan Shuley? Or only to Africans?
For Kenyans, yes. Don’t blame me. How many Kenyans have gotten busted over the past few years? Blame them. I would say 65% chance Shuley is doping. I don’t assume he’s clean because he’s a nice guy. 0.5% cooper is doping. He has zero reason to. If an American woman runs a sub 2:15 marathon, 100% chance they are doping.
If I were a professional runner from Kenya, I would 100% dope. I’m not judging them. Money is life changing for them and all their peers are doing it. If I didn’t dope, it would only be because I was scared of the health risks. Not for any moral reason.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
is that the new standard? Guilty until proven innocent? How long do we have to wait, in your view, before this performance warrants recognition?
Would you apply the same standard to emerging American standouts such as Cooper Lutkenhaus and Ethan Shuley? Or only to Africans?
For Kenyans, yes. Don’t blame me. How many Kenyans have gotten busted over the past few years? Blame them. I would say 65% chance Shuley is doping. I don’t assume he’s clean because he’s a nice guy. 0.5% cooper is doping. He has zero reason to. If an American woman runs a sub 2:15 marathon, 100% chance they are doping.
If I were a professional runner from Kenya, I would 100% dope. I’m not judging them. Money is life changing for them and all their peers are doing it. If I didn’t dope, it would only be because I was scared of the health risks. Not for any moral reason.
Tesfay's extraordinary performance should be a major story. It is the #2 women's marathon of all time, second only to a known doper. It is a time that would have been inconceivable even five years ago.
But the story is being largely ignored -- not just in the media at large but even here at letsrun.com, a site for distance running afficiandos.
I suspect that most of us are pretty jaded at this point. Ho hum, another possble doper African runs an incredible marathon.
The fact that people are reacting this way is a major problem for our sport.
I feel bad for her on the off chance this performance was an honest one, but honestly, few believe it is. I don't, but will be happy to correct my stance if she's not busted over the next 5 years. Too bad we don't have a Time Machine that will allow us to travel instantly ahead and back so we have a better chance of evaluating this run.
she run very controlled 10K splits in around 31 minutes. This is not incredible. Just requires extra ordinary endurance.
Half-Marathon 65.05 puts her number 4 on 2026 top list. 1 minute behind leader.
splits 65.05 / 65.48 show exceptional pacing.
This is a well executed race. Pity it was not a WR.
Berlin and Valencia race directors must be on the phone. What a payday.
So she went out about 1:22 seconds slower than her open 10k pr, then ran another 20 mile averaging slightly faster than that pace???? I have never come on these boards pointing the finger, but geez!!!!! I'd love to be wrong, but what the hay....and it truly seems like most get caught 2 years later and fade away. Of course, it's possible, but....
Insane debut, honestly not sure what to make of it. Brilliant time, she has ran a 63 half so the wheels are obviously there, but to be that far ahead of Assefa just blows my mind. I’m going to call it a new WR for the moment as Ruth is dirrrrrty. Will she get a WR bonus?
"Has ran?" Are we seriously still doing this? Are we still acting like we don't know how to correctly use the very word that brings us to this site?
Would you be shocked to learn that the same agent who was there when Jama Aden got busted for doping is her agent? Juan Pineda strikes again. Pineda Sports record is impressive, I’m sure this list of athletes caught doping while working with Pineda was coincidental. Surely. Salwa Eid Naser - 2 year ban whereabouts
Abraham Kiptum - blood doping, 4 year ban
Robel Fsiha - anabolic steroids
Sadik Mikhou - antidoping violation idk
Gudaf Tsegay - blood passport issue suggesting blood doping after attending a short very remote “training camp”
Freweyni Hailu - same issue and time as Gudaf
Poor guy just has bad characters. Even though he was enabling Jama Aden to continue coaching while banned via other coaches, including the husband of Gudaf who coached today’s result. Bravo. It’s unclear whether Rosa or Pineda is the goat of unlucky association with doping.