ALI FAILS DRUG TEST
GB Olympian is suspended
MUHAMMAD ALI, who was Team GB’S flyweight representative at the Olympic Games last year, has failed a drug test.
AIBA, the world governing body, announced that he had tested positive for a non-specified substance included on the WADA ( World Anti-doping Agency) Prohibited list. The result was discovered from an in-competition test after Ali boxed for the British Lionhearts World Series of Boxing team away in Morocco in April. He has been handed a provisional suspension.
In their statement AIBA said, “The boxer tested positive for type S1. 1A Exogenous AAS substances at the in-competition test conducted on the occasion of the World Series of Boxing match between Morocco Atlas Lions vs British Lionhearts held on April 21. In accordance with the AIBA Anti-doping Rules and the World Anti-doping Code, the boxer and England Boxing have been notified about the findings.
“AIBA welcomes and fully supports the anti-doping testing procedure put in place for competitions. AIBA is working with WADA to ensure that boxing is doping free and will take the appropriate action regarding this case.”
Ali is the first GB boxer to fail a drug test. A top flyweight he has won the England Boxing Elite championships and a European championships silver medal.
Boxing News understands that he was tested six times between March 2016 and March 2017 with no abnormal results. From January 2015 to August 2016 he would have received anti-doping education.
As he waits for a hearing with the AIBA Anti-doping Panel to make a ruling he is forbidden from competing in boxing events at home or abroad.
“GB Boxing can confirm that a member of its squad has tested positive for a banned substance,” a spokesperson for GB boxing said. “The boxer is suspended from the GB Boxing squad pending the outcome of the process.
“The boxer has also been suspended from all international and domestic competitions, in accordance with the provisions of the World Anti-doping Agency ( WADA) and the International Boxing Association (AIBA), until this process is finalised.”
The statement concluded, “This is the first time that a member of the GB Boxing squad has tested positive for a banned substance. GB Boxing is committed to clean sport and we work in partnership with UK Anti-doping (UKAD) and our International Federation to provide extensive education and support to our boxers on anti-doping rules, the anti-doping obligations upon them as athletes and the importance of adhering to the principles of clean sport.”