The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics has handed Nigerian long-distance runner Blessing Solomon a three-year ban after she tested positive for the prohibited substance Trimetazidine.
Trimetazidine, a medication used to prevent angina attacks, was first classified as a metabolic modulator by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2014 and has been included on its Prohibited List for both in-competition and out-of-competition use.
According to the AIU, Solomon was tested during the Premium Trust Bank Half Marathon in Abuja last December.
“On February 5, 2026, the AIU notified the athlete of an Adverse Analytical Finding in line with Article 5.1.2.1 of the ISRM, which may constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. The athlete was provisionally suspended and informed of her rights, including the option to request a B Sample analysis or admit the violation for a potential one-year reduction in her ban,” the statement read.
Solomon did not contest the charge, resulting in a reduction of her initial four-year ineligibility period to three years, effective from February 5, 2026.
The AIU also ordered the disqualification of all Solomon’s results from December 6, 2025, including the forfeiture of titles, medals, prizes, points, and appearance money.
At the Abuja Half Marathon, Solomon had finished second with a time of 1:16:28.69, behind Kenya’s Mercy Jepkemoi, who won in 1:14:53.28.
This ruling highlights the ongoing crackdown on doping in athletics, reinforcing WADA and AIU’s commitment to maintaining clean and fair competition.
