The Athletics Integrity Unit has imposed a four-year suspension on Ukrainian track and field competitor Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk following detection of testosterone metabolites in her system.
The 30-year-old athlete produced the positive sample during testing conducted on 7 December last year.
The AIU revealed that Bekh-Romanchuk had until 10 August to acknowledge the anti-doping rule breach, which would have resulted in a reduced three-year suspension.
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Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk produced the positive sample during testing conducted on 7 December last year
|The Ukrainian competitor has rejected allegations of deliberate doping, asserting that elevated testosterone levels resulted from an undisclosed medical issue and associated treatment.
Bekh-Romanchuk has represented Ukraine at three Olympic Games and secured silver medals in both long jump and triple jump at World Championships.
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Her most recent Olympic performance came in Paris 2024, where she finished eleventh in the triple jump final.
The athlete from Moroziv has established herself as one of Ukraine's premier track and field competitors over the past decade.
Beyond athletics, she has cultivated a substantial social media presence with 491,000 Instagram followers and works as a model for several Ukrainian brands including Domino Group, Trihard and Fabric 17.
She is married to Olympic swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk, who won silver and bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The AIU initially publicised the case in May but stated that Bekh-Romanchuk failed to substantiate her medical defence.
She retains the right to challenge the suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In a recent statement, Bekh-Romanchuk said: "I can no longer fight on two fronts my honest name in front of the Athletics Integrity Unit and my future in my personal life."
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Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk is renowned for her glamorous pictures on Instagram as well as representing Ukraine at the Olympics on three occasions
|She added: "I refused to sign any documents that required recognition of my guilt, because I am an honest person and my humanity and dignity are important to me."
The athlete expressed frustration that her "case has been handled carelessly and not conducted the necessary investigation."
The suspension, which extends until May 2029, effectively rules out her participation at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
She will also be absent from the next two World Championships due to the timing of the ban.
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Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk finished eleventh in the triple jump final at the Paris Olympics last year
|PA
This could mark the conclusion of her elite athletic career, though her established presence as a model and influencer offers an alternative professional path.
Bekh-Romanchuk announced plans to "take a break to focus on my family and my own health" whilst dealing with the suspension.
She promised to provide a comprehensive interview soon, stating she would "tell everything frankly" about her case.