Hangzhou, China, October 3, 2023: The Olympic Council of Asia has provisionally suspended Saudi Arabia’s long-distance runner Mohammed Yousef Al-Asiri from taking further part in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Yousef Al-Asiri, who was down to take part in the men’s 10,000 metres and men’s 5,000m races, had returned a positive test for the prohibited substance darbepoetin (dEPO).
The Saudi athlete had given a sample during an out-of-competition anti-doping control performed on September 26 by the International Testing Agency (ITA) at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA anti-doping rules.
Yousef Al-Asiri, 34, did not start the men’s 10,000m final on September 30. He is also entered to take part in the men’s 5,000m final on Wednesday, October 4.