Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, a refugee athlete who competed in the 1,500 metres at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for Trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Tuesday.
Lohalith, born in South Sudan, and most recently participated in the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade in late March, now faces a potential four-year ban from competitive sports.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (Athlete Refugee Team) for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Trimetazidine),” the AIU wrote on X.
The AIU has provisionally suspended Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (Athlete Refugee Team) for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Trimetazidine)
Details here: https://t.co/Y8LF9j2o9f pic.twitter.com/ZDIFi1M3L6
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) April 30, 2024
This development marks the latest instance of a refugee athlete encountering disciplinary action from anti-doping authorities, as reported by Reuters.
Read more: Botswana’s Nijel Amos suspended for doping; set to miss World Championships
Dominic Lokolong Atiol, a middle-distance runner originally from South Sudan and presently residing in Kenya, was also suspended after testing positive for TMZ in March.
Additionally, Fouad Idbafdil, a steeplechaser of Moroccan descent who competed at the 2019 world championships in Doha, received a three-year ban in December after acknowledging the use of the prohibited performance-enhancing hormone EPO.
Trimetazidine, a substance known for its ability to enhance blood flow to the heart and commonly prescribed for angina treatment, has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances since 2014.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently providing support to 73 refugee athletes through scholarships as they strive to secure berths at the upcoming Paris Summer Games. Notably, the refugee team that competed in Tokyo three years ago comprised 29 dedicated athletes.
