“Please Stop”: Paris Olympics Hopeful Nia Ali Slams USADA for Disrupting Private Family Time

With 63 days remaining for the 2024 Paris Games, Olympics hopeful Nia Ali’s path shows signs of her commitment to her family and her sport. Juggling between parenthood and a sports career can be extremely daunting, but even with the demanding nature of her athletic profession, Ali is a protective as well as doting parent to her three kids.

Recently, Ali took to X to express her annoyance with the US Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) surprise visits. Preparing for Paris and managing her time for family clearly is not a cakewalk, and when the already busy schedule is disrupted by unplanned visits, it can be even more stressful. This message was very clear in her post, in which she wrote, “I have 3 kids, a man and myself… keeping up our schedules is hard enough. Anti-doping please stop disrupting my already busy schedule to come outside of my slot!!!!!! I should not have to leave the movie theater or have you ride in my car to sit in the school line to get my kids.” 

Nia Ali’s popularity has spurred discussion on how to strike a balance between athletes’ private lives and strict anti-doping regulations. However, being a top athlete has many requirements. These expectations are exacerbated for Nia Ali by her motherhood duties towards her three children – Yuri, Titus, and Kenzo.

Ali’s drive and determination are seen by her ability to maintain an equilibrium between her personal and work lives. Having won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a world title following the birth of her second child, she has consistently exceeded expectations. Several people are inspired by her resolve to compete at the greatest levels despite the difficulties.

Nia Ali’s eyes on the 2024 Paris Olympics balancing motherhood

Nia Ali is still focused on her future objectives despite these obstacles, with the goal to compete and win at the Olympics in Paris in 2024. During a conversation about the 2024 Summer Olympics, Nia Ali stated, “I know I’m older but I don’t feel it, so I want to continue to build on that, and god willing I’m around through Paris (2024 Olympics) and trying to reach some more goals.”

At the 2024 Jamaica Athletics Invitational which took place on May 11, Nia Ali faced record holder Tobi Amusan and Danielle Williams. Despite giving a tough competition, Ali slipped to fifth with a time of 12.65. However, she still has a chance to redeem herself at the Prefontaine Classic, set to take place on May 25.

Talking about the purity and zeal that come from her kids reaffirms her love for the game despite the difficulties. “They don’t look at it as work, because they do it for fun,” she chuckles. Her kids’ viewpoint is enlightening because they frequently remark, “Oh, you’re going to work? No, you’re going to track practice!” To which Ali replies, in a lighthearted manner, “Yes, but it’s work!” Moreover, there are new hurdles when you get home after a hard practice. “When we come home, they’re jumping on us,” Ali says, laughing. “We’ve got to try to recover, please get off my legs!”

Going forward, Ali is committed to building on her achievements from the past and hitting new benchmarks. She wishes her kids to be present for her wins, demonstrating that being a committed mother and a competitive athlete are not exclusive of one another.