Sprinter Dominique Lasconi Mulamba, listed as one of Congo’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, has tested positive for an anabolic steroid, the International Testing Agency said on Sunday.
Mulamba, who competed in the 100m, gave a sample that was positive for stanozolol metabolite, the ITA said.
That’s the same steroid that sprinter Ben Johnson used at Seoul 1988.
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Mulamba has been provisionally suspended and cannot participate in the closing ceremony, it was revealed in a statement hours before the Stade de France event was set to begin.
“This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Summer Games Paris 2024,” the ITA’s statement said.
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The sample was collected last Sunday, a day after the 22-year-old Mulamba was eliminated in the round before the semifinals when he ran 10.53 and finished seventh in his heat.
It was the fourth failed drug test at Paris 2024.
Mulamba can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ITA’s statement concluded: “Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.”
