Afghanistan’s Judo Star Mohammad Samim Faizad Faces Third Olympic Doping Scandal

PARIS, France — An Afghan judoka has tested positive for an anabolic steroid at the Paris Olympics. The substance in question is stanozolol, famously known for its association with sprinter Ben Johnson’s scandal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Mohammad Samim Faizad, who provided the sample after his opening bout, is the athlete in question, as confirmed by the International Testing Agency on Saturday. This marks the third instance of a failed drug test at the Paris Games.

In his competition, Faizad faced Wachid Borchashvili of Austria in the men’s 81-kilogram class but lost the bout.

Faizad recently turned 22 and has since been removed from the Olympics. His departure leaves the Afghan team, consisting of three men and three women, without its only Kabul-based athlete.