Overview

• Ahmed Abdelwahed, an Italian steeplechase runner, has been banned for four years by the Athletics Integrity Unit for testing positive for the banned drug meldonium.
• Abdelwahed is due to be stripped of his European Championships silver medal, which he won in Munich in August 2022.
• Abdelwahed maintains that he never used meldonium intentionally, suggesting the positive case resulted from a biotransformation process involving a supplement.
• The Athletics Integrity Unit rejected Abdelwahed's explanation as 'unspecific and highly unlikely'.
• Abdelwahed has the right to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 30 days.