The Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC) has imposed an indefinite ban on legendary athlete Haile Gebrselassie following remarks he made about the locally distilled alcoholic beverage areqie and its use among some athletes. The decision, originally reached in late September 2025, also includes the formation of a committee to monitor potential consequences arising from the controversy.
Repeated attempts by Addis Reporter to reach Haile for comment were unsuccessful.
Haile’s comments appear in a recorded interview released three years ago on YouTube. In the video, he describes athletes traveling abroad with areqie and mentions one athlete he called “Worqesha.” Although he added a note of caution during the interview, the EOC strongly condemned the implication that alcohol could be associated with athletic preparation.
The EOC stated that a national icon of Haile’s stature should not promote or normalize the use of areqie among athletes. It emphasized that international sports regulations strictly separate athletics from alcohol. Areqie, a traditional distilled spirit, typically contains 30 percent to more than 50 percent alcohol by volume depending on whether it is single distilled (“terra”) or double distilled (“dagim”).
In its statement, the EOC highlighted concerns that connecting areqie to doping could cause serious domestic and international repercussions. Citing the position of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Committee warned that Haile’s remarks risk misleading younger athletes and the broader public.
It’s unclear why the EOC is issuing a decision now about an incident that happened three years ago. The timing doesn’t make sense, and nothing in their statement explains the delay.
Indefinite Suspension and International Notification
According to the EOC, the public announcement of the ban was delayed to allow Haile time to review the press release and offer comments. However, he has not responded since September. When Golgul, the Amharic Online Newspaper, inquired about the delay, the EOC confirmed that it ultimately proceeded with the unedited version of the decision.
Under the terms of the ban, Haile is prohibited from engaging in any activities that involve the name of the Ethiopian Olympic Committee, including sponsorship or advertising agreements linked to the EOC. Copies of the decision have been sent to his affiliated sponsors.
The EOC has also instructed that the decision be translated and shared with international organizations. Legal experts consulted stated that the Committee holds full authority to impose such a sanction and noted that the case carries significant implications for Haile’s international reputation.
Haile Gebrselassie has long-standing sponsorship agreements with global sportswear brands. Observers believe the EOC’s explicit links between areqie and doping may prompt these companies to issue responses to protect their brand image.
Golgul, the Amharic Online Newspaper
Leave a Reply