Above: Ethiopian distance runner Dejene Berhanu, 29, was
reported dead last Sunday by his management firm. (RRW)

Race Results Weekly | Universal Sports
Posted: Sep 2, 1:49p ET

Ethiopian distance runner Dejene Berhanu, who was reported dead at the age of 29 last Sunday by his management firm, took his own life.

Two independent sources contacted by Race Results Weekly who had knowledge of the situation, one in the United States and one in Ethiopia, confirmed the news. Neither source wished to be identified given the sensitivity of the situation.

“It is true that Dejene Berhanu died on Sunday from suicide and was buried on Monday,” said the Ethiopian source. “The cause of death is suicide. These are the facts I know at the moment.”

Berhanu first became known in 2000 when he took the silver medal at 10,000m at the African Championships in Algiers. He would eventually improve to make the 2004 Ethiopian Olympic team and finish fifth at the 5000m. He also won the Great North Run Half-Marathon later that year. He had lifetime bests of 12:54.15 for 5000m, 27:12.22 for 10,000m, 59:37 for the half-marathon and 2:08:46 for the marathon. Read more.