Switzerland sprinter Alex Wilson slapped with 4 year ban for steroid use

BERN, Switzerland — Almost a year after running the fastest time of his life and provide a buzz in the track and field fraternity, Switzerland sprinter Alex Wilson has been banned for four years on Tuesday after an anti-doping tribunal judged he intentionally used an anabolic steroid. He ran an unratified 9.84 seconds last season.

Wilson, who is a bronze medalist over the 200 bronze at the 2018 European Championships, was due to compete in both the 100m and 200m races in Tokyo, but tested positive for the steroid trenbolone in an out-of-competition sample taken in March 2021.

Despite his positive test, the 31-year-old was allowed to continue competing after blaming the result on contaminated meat he ate in Las Vegas, the Swiss Olympic committee said in announcing the latest ruling of its tribunal.

However, the case was took focus again at the Tokyo Olympics last summer when judges of the Court of Arbitration for Sport reinstated Wilson’s provisional suspension days before the sprinter was slated to compete at the Games.

Wilson’s provisional ban during a disciplinary investigation was restored in Tokyo after the World Anti-Doping Agency and World Athletics intervened with CAS.

The Swiss Olympic tribunal now ruled the Jamaican-born Wilson intended to use doping and handed him a ban that runs into April 2025. He can appeal against the verdict at CAS.

Wilson, a 14-time Swiss national champion owns personal best times of 10.08 seconds for the 100 meters and 19.98 seconds for the 200 meters, set three years ago in 2019.

Prior to being banned, Wilson had run a time that was faster than European 100m record after he 9.84 clocked last July. At the same meeting, he also posted 19.89 secs for a fast 200m. The marks were never ratified by World Athletics.

—AP Report with added information