Ukrainian triple jump specialist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk faces a career-threatening four-year suspension after failing a drugs test for testosterone metabolites in December 2024.
The Athletics Integrity Unit announced the sanction on Tuesday, rejecting the 30-year-old's medical explanation for the positive result.
The three-time Olympian, who claimed silver medals at the 2019 and 2023 World Championships, maintains her innocence and attributes the elevated testosterone levels to medical treatment.
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The ban extends until May 2029, potentially marking the end of her competitive athletics career.
Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk won silver in the 2019 and 2023 World Championships
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Bekh-Romanchuk has refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing and plans to challenge the decision.
The AIU offered a reduced three-year penalty if she admitted the violation by 10 August, but she declined to accept culpability.
The suspension prevents her participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and the next two World Championships.
Testing conducted on December 7 in Khmelnytskyi revealed abnormal testosterone levels. Despite her medical defence, the AIU determined in May that her explanation failed to justify any reduction in the standard four-year sanction.
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The Ukrainian has also featured in three Olympics
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At 34 when the ban expires, returning to elite competition would prove challenging. Her most recent Olympic appearance saw her finish 11th in the triple jump at Paris 2024.
Following the AIU's announcement, Bekh-Romanchuk took to social media to contest the ruling.
"I have devoted my whole life to sports and fair fight," she wrote, emphasising her commitment to clean competition throughout her career.
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"It pains me that my case has been handled carelessly and not conducted the necessary investigation."
The athlete confirmed she "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."
Bekh-Romanchuk promised to address the controversy comprehensively, stating she would soon "be giving a big interview in which I will tell everything frankly."
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Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk is married to swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk,
|The Khmelnytskyi-born athlete has established a successful parallel career as a model and influencer, amassing 491,000 Instagram followers.
She has collaborated with prominent Ukrainian brands including Domino Group, Trihard and Fabric 17.
Her personal life features prominently in Ukrainian media as she is married to swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk, who secured silver and bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
The couple, who celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary earlier this year, are regarded as Ukraine's premier sporting partnership.
Bekh-Romanchuk retains the option to appeal the AIU's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a path she appears prepared to pursue given her steadfast denial of the charges.