Layes Abdullayeva

Layes Abdullayeva

Layes Abdullayeva in U23 2011 European Championships
Personal information
Nationality	Azerbaijani
Born	(1991-05-29) 29 May 1991 (age 33) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	1500 metres, 3000 metres, 3000 metres steeplechase, 5000 metres, Half marathon
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Azerbaijan World Junior Championships in Athletics 2010 Moncton 3000 m European U23 Championships in Athletics 2011 Ostrava 10000 m 2013 Tampere 5000 m Islamic Solidarity Games 2013 Palembang 5000 m

Layes Abdullayeva (Amharic: Abelav Layes Tsige; born 29 May 1991 in Ethiopia) is an Ethiopian-born Azerbaijani international middle and long-distance track and field athlete, running in the disciplines of 1500 m, 3000 m and 5000 m, but also 10000 m.^[1]

Life

In 2009, a Turkish coach in Adis Ababa persuaded her to switch allegiance to Azerbaijan.^[2] She competed for Azerbaijan in the time period from 2009 to 2013.

After the end of her sporting career, she returned back to Ethiopia and later regretted her cooperation with the Azerbaijani national team, mentioning insufficient funding and being tricked to dope.^[2]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Azerbaijan
2009	European Junior Championships	Novi Sad, Serbia	2nd	3000 m steeplechase	9:55.95
2010	World Indoor Championships	Doha, Qatar	7th	3000 m	8:57.59
	World Junior Championships	Moncton, Canada	3rd	3000 m	8:55.33 NR
	European Championships	Barcelona, Spain	6th	3000 m steeplechase	9:34.75
2011	European Indoor Championships	Paris, France	3rd	3000 m	9:00.37
	European U23 Championships	Ostrava, Czech Republic	1st	5000m	15:29.47
			1st	10,000m	32:18.05 (CR)
	Universiade	Shenzhen, China	5th	5000 m	16:03.13
2012	World Indoor Championships	Istanbul, Turkey	10th (h)	3000 m	9:08.41
	European Championships	Helsinki, Finland	14th	5000 m	15:33.88
	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	32nd (q)	5000 m	15:45.69
2013	European Athletics U23 Championships	Tampere, Finland	1st	5000 m	15:51.72
	Islamic Solidarity Games	Palembang, Indonesia	3rd	5000 m	16:49.08

References

1. "Zarudneva gets her due with steeplechase gold". Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
2. Kelner, Martha; Kelner, Special report by Martha (3 August 2017). "'We are treated like sporting slaves': Ethiopian lifts lid on trade in athletes". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

External links

• Layes Abdullayeva at World Athletics