Doping offence earns Tokyo Olympics swimming gold medallist a 21-month ban
Freestyle swimmer is handed suspension for ‘whereabouts failures’
Tokyo Olympics 400 metres freestyle champion Ahmed Hafnaoui has received a 21-month suspension for three whereabouts failures, the Aquatic Sports Integrity Unit said.
The Tunisian swimmer’s ban runs until January 10, 2026 and all of his results from April 11, 2024 onwards have been disqualified, it added.
“Mr. Hafnaoui admitted that he committed three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period,” Aquatic Sports Integrity Unit said.
“Whereabouts failures” is a term used in sport’s anti-doping code in which an athlete misses unannounced out-of-competition testing for banned substances at any time and at any location.
Reuters has contacted Africa Aquatics and the Tunisian Olympic Committee for comment.
As well as winning the 400m free title at Tokyo, Hafnaoui won 800m and 1,500m gold and 400m silver at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka.