Canada’s Penny Oleksiak banned from swimming competitions for 2 years

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Swimmer Penny Oleksiak was banned from aggressive swimming for 2 years after repeatedly failing to let authorities know her availability for anti-doping spot-checks exterior of competitors intervals.

The International Testing Agency introduced Tuesday that Oleksiak had accepted the two-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation often known as a whereabouts failure.

Athletes in a Registered Testing Pool are obligated to supply to the ITA their whereabouts each day, in addition to a particular each day one-hour time slot once they could be out there to be examined. Swimming Canada confirmed to The Globe and Mail that there are 14 Canadians in that testing pool.

As considered one of Canada’s prime swimmers, Oleksiak is within the Registered Testing Pool decided by World Aquatics, and subsequently topic to common out-of-competition testing.

She has gained seven Olympic medals – one gold, two silver, and 4 bronze from the 2016 and 2020 Games – and 9 World Championships medals.

Penny Oleksiak withdraws from swimming worlds, citing whereabouts case with World Aquatics

In July, the ITA introduced that Oleksiak had dedicated three whereabouts failures inside a 12-month interval, outlined as episodes of both lacking a take a look at or failing to inform authorities of her location and availability. The interval in query spanned October, 2024 to June, 2025. Oleksiak accepted a voluntary provisional suspension whereas the matter was pending decision, prompting her to withdraw from final summer season’s world championships.

In an Instagram publish on the time, Oleksiak stated she wished “to emphasize that this whereabouts case does not involve any banned substance; it’s about whether I updated my information correctly.”

“Out of respect for Swimming Canada, my fellow racers and clean sport, I have decided not to compete at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. I am and always have been a clean athlete and will be making no further comment at this time.”

The ITA announcement on Tuesday stated Oleksiak didn’t contest its findings. “Accordingly, the case was resolved through an acceptance of consequences.”

In an announcement, Swimming Canada stated it respects the ITA’s resolution.

“We are committed to the enforcement and support of all anti-doping rules as outlined in the Canadian Anti-Doping Program and through World Aquatics and the World Anti-Doping Agency,” stated Swimming Canada CEO Suzanne Paulins.

“While we accept Penny’s explanation these were inadvertent errors and she has not used banned substances, anti-doping regulations are in place to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.

“We will miss Penny on the national team and hope to see her back in the pool when she is eligible.”

The assertion added a reminder to athletes that “they are responsible for completing whereabouts and submitting filings on time to comply with anti-doping rules to avoid sanctions.”

Oleksiak’s suspension is retroactive to July 15, 2025 and runs till July 14, 2027. She remains to be eligible to compete within the 2028 Olympic Games.

The suspension could be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.