Shock for Switzerland shortly before the start of the Olympic Games: hurdler Kariem Hussein was found to have an illegal substance in a doping test.
The Swiss hurdler Kariem Hussein has been banned for doping and is not allowed to start at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. As the Swiss Olympic announced on Friday, the 32-year-old athlete was found to have an illegal substance in a doping test at championships in Langenthal. The disciplinary body of the Swiss Olympic then imposed a nine-month ban on the 2014 European champions over the 400 hurdles.
Hussein stated that the positive doping test was due to a lozenge containing the banned substance nikethamide. “As the umbrella organization for Swiss sport and as the National Olympic Committee, Swiss Olympic is shocked by the incident at a time when the international sport is to be celebrated on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” the statement said.
That the athlete has accepted his suspension and takes responsibility for his offense deserves respect