Sports September 25 2026

France's Samba-Mayela provisionally suspended by AIU

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Cyrena Samba-Mayela, French Olympic 100-metre hurdles silver medallist Cyrena Samba-Mayela, French Olympic 100-metre hurdles silver medallist AP

French Olympic 100-metre hurdles silver medallist Cyrena Samba-Mayela has been provisionally suspended for ​an alleged whereabouts violation, the Athletics ‌Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed on Friday.

Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, athletes who accumulate three whereabouts failures, through missed ​tests, filing failures or a combination of both, within a 12-month period, can be charged with an ​anti-doping rule violation which carries a ​ban of up to two years.

French media reported last month that Samba-Mayela, France's sole track and ​field medallist at the Paris Olympics, ​had recorded three whereabouts failures within ⁠a 12-month period.

Her agent, Maka Haidara, said at the time that the proceedings were ​related solely ​to whereabouts ⁠obligations and not to the use of any prohibited substance, ​adding that Samba-Mayela had complied with ​the ⁠process and was cooperating with the investigation.

Samba-Mayela has not competed since July and later ⁠withdrew ​from the European Championships ​in Birmingham due to a calf injury.

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