Ahmed Hafnaoui, the Tokyo Olympics champion in the 400-meter freestyle, has been handed a 21-month suspension. The sanction was imposed by the Aquatic Sports Integrity Unit due to three instances of whereabouts failures.
The suspension period for the Tunisian swimmer is set to last until January 10, 2026. Furthermore, all of Hafnaoui's competitive results achieved from April 11, 2024, have been nullified.
The Aquatic Sports Integrity Unit confirmed that Hafnaoui acknowledged committing three whereabouts failures within a one-year timeframe.
In addition to his Olympic victory, Hafnaoui achieved significant success at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, securing gold medals in the 800 and 1,500-meter events, along with a silver medal in the 400-meter race.
Due to an unspecified injury, Hafnaoui was unable to participate in the recent Paris Olympics.
5 Comments
Bermudez
Rules of the game should be observed. The integrity of a sport matters.
Comandante
He acknowledged the failures, at least he accepted it, and now he faces the consequences.
eliphas
Disappointing news, but the integrity of the sport is more important.
Karamba
It's unfortunate, but fair play is paramount. Everyone needs to follow the same rules.
Muchacha
The system must be fair to all. The suspension is justified, even if unfortunate.