Silver medalist at the European Championships this summer.
Now, Italian long-distance runner Ahmed Abdel Wahed, 26, has tested positive for doping.
“I’m trying to understand how this could happen”He writes on Instagram.
Ahmed Abdel Wahed finished second in the 3000m hurdles, with Finland’s Toby Raitanen making a strong push and winning the gold medal.
Now, Abdul Wahed found himself in a bind.
A doping test he gave during the European Championships in Munich was found to contain traces of the banned substance meldonium – the substance for which Norwegian ski star Therese Johaug and Russian tennis icon Maria Sharapova were arrested.
“I’ve never heard of”
In an Instagram post, Abdel Wahed said he was shocked.
“Some things you don’t think could happen to yourself, but they seem to have found traces of meldonium – which I’ve never heard of – in my urine sample. I’ve never taken any performance-enhancing drug on purpose, so I’m trying to understand how it might Have this in Bole.”He writes on Instagram.
Temporarily closed
Abdel Wahed confirms that he has been temporarily suspended pending investigation. He hopes to clear himself and prove his innocence.
“Now we are waiting for sample B to see if it was contaminated. I have always played sports with the purpose of having fun rather than winning. For me, it was just about being happy and meeting new people. I will keep you updated on this and hopefully prove my innocence”He writes a tribute to his fans.