Süreyya Ayhan

Who is Süreyya Ayhan?

Süreyya Ayhan Kop is a Turkish former middle distance track runner who specialised in the 1500 metres. In November 2009, she was banned for lifetime by the Court of Arbitration for Sport due to failing a doping test.

Ayhan ran for the sports clubs MTA Ankara and Fenerbahçe Istanbul. She then joined the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club. She holds Turkish records in 800 m and 1500 m. She became the first Turkish woman ever to reach an Olympic semi-final during her participation in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The next year, she became the first Turkish woman to reach a World Championship final. She was the best European woman athlete running 1500 m in two consecutive years 2002 and 2003.