18-Year-Old Track and Field Star, Who Once Beat Noah Lyles, Faces Suspension Blunder Before World Championships

In April 2023, US track and field star Noah Lyles was trounced by an 18-year-old teenager in a 100-meter race. The track and field sprinter was surpassed by the Florida-based athlete, who clocked the win in 9.83 seconds. While Lyles had to settle for the second position on the podium with 9.92 seconds, the 18-year-old stood atop the podium and managed to reach the finals of the World Championships.

However, despite reaching the finals of the World Championship, the 18-year-old Issam Asinga will most likely not be sprinting on the tracks of Budapest. The athlete is facing a provisional suspension by the Athletic Integrity Unit (AIU).

Track and field prodigy facing provisional suspension

Only a few weeks before the world championships in Budapest, sprinter Issam Asinga faces a provisional suspension. On August 11, the teenage sprinter who was going to represent a South American country, Suriname, on the Budapest tracks was suspended by the AIU. According to a tweet posted by the official Twitter account of the Athletics Integrity Unit on August 11, “The AIU has provisionally suspended Issamade Asinga (Suriname) for the presence/ use of a prohibited substance (GW1516).”

The teenage athletic star was given notice by the integrity department accusing him of having the substance on him on Wednesday. The GW1516 is a highly carcinogenic substance that was abandoned in 2007 and prohibited under World Athletics Anti-Doping (WADA) Rules. Amid this ban, Asinga released a statement on Instagram. According to the statement, a urine sample of the athlete was taken for investigation on July 18 before participating in the South American championship held on July 28. And, on August 10th, the sample that was taken to a laboratory in Brazil came back negative.

Issam Asinga might be facing a huge ban

For now, the 18-year-old Asinga is facing a temporary ban that prevents him from participating in the World Championship. According to Asinga, the AIU has agreed to test his B sample before the world championships to be held in the next few weeks.

Also read:‘Completely Cheated’: British Athletes Express Frustration Over World Championship Selection

Further, the athlete revealed, “The alleged amount found in my urine sample is 0.2 nanograms per ml.” Asinga, who is still hopeful to run the Budapest tracks, ended the statement by stating, “Until that time, I will remain steadfast and wait.” The final decision on the allegation has not been made yet. However, the 18-year-old could face a ban up to four years if found guilty.

However, after the final hearing, the track and field athlete can face up to a four-year ban if the test results are positive. The final decision will be made by a hearing by the World Athletic Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct, as per the anti-doping guiding guidelines.

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