The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has handed a three-year suspension to Nigerian para powerlifter Kafilat Almaruf for violating anti-doping regulations.
In an official statement, the IPC confirmed the detection of an anabolic agent of exogenous origin in a urine sample Almaruf provided during an out-of-competition test on July 11, 2024.
The ban, effective for three years, was issued for breaching the IPC Anti-Doping Code, constituting an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
According to the IPC, “The GC/C/IRMS analysis differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. The analysis confirmed the presence of an anabolic agent of exogenous origin in Almaruf’s urine sample.”
Exogenous anabolic steroids are listed under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2024 Prohibited List, categorized as S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS). These substances are prohibited at all times.
Following the initial findings, the IPC provisionally suspended Almaruf on August 19, 2024. The athlete accepted responsibility for the violation and agreed to the consequences proposed by the IPC.
As a result, Almaruf will be barred from competing and participating in other sporting activities, except for authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs, from August 19, 2024, to August 18, 2027.