Canadian swimming sensation Penny Oleksiak, the nation’s most decorated Olympian, has been handed a two-year suspension for violating anti-doping regulations. The International Testing Agency (ITA) revealed on Tuesday that Oleksiak committed three ‘whereabout failures’ within a 12-month period. Athletes are mandated to provide daily location details and a specific one-hour window for out-of-competition drug testing. Oleksiak, a seven-time Olympic medalist, rose to fame during the 2016 Rio Games, becoming Canada’s youngest Olympic champion at just 16 years old. The 25-year-old swimmer, born in Toronto, will be eligible to return to competition in July 2027. Suzanne Paulins, CEO of Swimming Canada, acknowledged Oleksiak’s explanation that the violations were unintentional and emphasized her commitment to clean sport. ‘Anti-doping regulations are crucial for maintaining fairness in competition,’ Paulins stated. ‘We will miss Penny on the national team and look forward to her return.’ Oleksiak was notified of the case in July and voluntarily withdrew from the world aquatics championships, accepting a provisional suspension. She maintains that the violations did not involve any banned substances and reiterated her status as a clean athlete. Despite the suspension, Oleksiak could potentially compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Canada’s seven-time Olympic winner banned for two years over rule violation
