William Morgan
Olympian Alysha Newman has been suspended after breaking one rule, leading to a ban from her sporting discipline where she is a top competitor.
The Canadian pole vaulter and adult model was placed on leave by the Athletics Integrity Unit via a provisional suspension, which will see her unable to compete for a short time until a final decision is reached at a hearing by the Unit.
Newman, who won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and then bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reportedly missed three doping tests across 12 months, effectively breaking the AIU’s anti-doping whereabouts rules.
However, it did not specify when she allegedly missed the tests. If an athlete does not submit information regarding their location or becomes unavailable to schedule the test, this counts as a no-show.
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Generally, they are required to update their location via a mobile app and provide an hour to attend the anti-doping test. Athletes generally list their overnight location, and even small mistakes or late updates can be counted as filing failures
In response to the pole vaulter’s banned status, Athletics Canada responded in a statement, which reads: “This is an unfortunate situation and Athletics Canada hopes to see Alysha Newman back as part of our National Team Program when she is eligible.”
The 31-year-old caused controversy during the 2024 Paris Olympics after celebrating by twerking after winning a medal for her 4.85 meters.
The athlete, who is also an OnlyFans star, revealed in 2022 that she was reclaiming her sexualization by starting up her OnlyFans account.
She revealed that she had been sexualized since becoming a pole vaulter, thanks to the clothing she wears.
In the interview with Daily Mail Sport, she said: “If I showed up in full leggings and a sports bra that covered my stomach, people would still sexualise me. I mean, it just never stops.
“When I decided to launch OnlyFans, it was really important for me to be a part of something I could control.”
But with this suspension, her career as an adult content creator may become her main gig. This is because she will be unable to compete until a hearing is held and the Athletics Integrity Unit makes a decision on her case, according to the Toronto Sun.
The 31-year-old has responded to the suspension on Instagram, saying: “[I’ve] never taken any enhanced drugs, I’ve never taken steroids, and the point of this suspension is simply a missed failure test of the whereabouts.
“… I’ve never missed three in a calendar year since I’ve been 16 years old. So, I fell short this year, we’re in the process, we’re going to figure it out, and I will see you guys back on the track.
"I will continue to be a clean athlete in this sport, and I’m honored to be Canadian to represent Canada at the highest level.”