In a recent development, a third member of the Refugee Olympic Team has been suspended following a positive doping test, adding to the challenges just days before the official announcement of athletes for the Paris 2024 Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, who hails from South Sudan and sought refuge in Kenya amid conflict, has been provisionally suspended after allegedly testing positive for a banned heart medication, trimetazidine, as confirmed by the athletics integrity unit. Details regarding the timeline for disciplinary proceedings have not been disclosed.

Lohalith, aged 31, has been a remarkable figure in the Olympic arena, participating in the 1,500m event for the Refugee team in both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Games. Her journey, marked by resilience and determination, has been supported by a scholarship from the IOC aimed at facilitating her preparation for these global events.

The IOC, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), had scheduled a media event to finalize the selection of the refugee team for the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11.

Lohalith’s suspension underscores the challenges faced by refugee athletes striving to compete at the highest level, with two previous cases involving doping allegations within the Refugee Olympic Team. Earlier instances involved Moroccan athlete Fouad Idbafdil and another South Sudanese runner, Dominic Lokolong Atiol, both facing provisional suspensions for doping violations.

This incident also resonates with recent doping controversies in international sports, such as the case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva and Chinese swimmers during the Tokyo Olympics. These incidents highlight the ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity of sports and combat doping practices, amidst evolving challenges and controversies.