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Issam Asinga Handed Four-Year SuspensionPublished by
Former Montverde Academy Sprinter Banned, World U20 Record Stripped By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor The Athletics Integrity Unit announced the long-awaited penalty for Issam Asinga's doping infraction, which was reported last summer after he broke the World U20 record in the men's 100 meters with 9.89 seconds at the South American championships. Asinga, who made headlines for running some of the fastest times in high school history last year for Montverde Academy in Florida, is a freshman at Texas A&M where he has remained on the roster pending the outcome of the violation. He has not competed for the Aggies. Asinga was named the Gatorade Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2023. Incidentally, Asinga claims that "recovery gummies" that were given to him as part of a gift package from Gatorade were the cause of his failed test. Asinga tested positive for GW1516, a substance created to increase endurance and burn fat that was later revealed to cause cancer in rodents. Asinga won New Balance Nationals indoor and outdoor titles last year. His results on the track included a wind-aided 9.83 seconds clocking in the 100 meters at the PURE Athletics Spring Invitational on April 23, 2023. He said in a statement Monday that he will appeal the decision. “Since I began competing, I have always been committed to the integrity of my sport,” Asinga said. “I have been hyper-vigilant and have NEVER used and would NEVER knowingly use any banned substance, risking a promising career and my entire future.” Asinga, 19, represented Suriname at last summer's South American Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he broke not only the World U20 record but also the South American record. More news |
