Tue, January 20, 2026
World Athletics v Mr Yousef Mohamed Al-Asiri
A decision has been issued by the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal in the matter of World Athletics (WA) v Mr Yousef Mohamed Al-Asiri, a long-distance runner from Saudi Arabia.
The Panel, constituted by sole arbitrator, Mr Ian Hunt, considered the case of Mr Al-Asiri in relation to an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) following a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) award dated 17 September 2024. That award established that Mr Al-Asiri had committed an ADRV and invited WA to consider whether further Consequences should be imposed under the WA Anti-Doping Rules (ADR).
The ADRV arose from two Out-of-Competition urine samples collected from Mr Al-Asiri on 26 and 28 September 2023 in connection with the 2023 Asian Games – Hangzhou, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), to which the OCA 2023 Anti-Doping Rules applied. Both samples tested positive for darbepoetin (dEPO) and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO), which are Prohibited Substances under Category S2 of the 2023 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
Following the CAS award, WA pursued the imposition of further Consequences. On 21 June 2025, Mr Al-Asiri requested a hearing before the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal to adjudicate the matter.
The Panel noted that Mr Al-Asiri had previously been found to have committed an ADRV in 2014 for the presence of Clenbuterol. Accordingly, the Panel determined that the present case constituted a second intentional ADRV for the purposes of the ADR.
In determining the applicable sanction, the Panel found that the starting point under Rule 10.2.1 ADR was a period of Ineligibility of four years. The Panel further concluded that Aggravating Circumstances were present, justifying an increase of the standard sanction by a further fifteen months pursuant to Rule 10.4 ADR. In accordance with Rule 10.9.1 ADR, the resulting period of Ineligibility was required to fall within the applicable range for a second ADRV, namely between seven years and three months and ten years and six months. Having regard to the nature of the ADRV and the Athlete’s degree of Fault, the Panel considered that, in the absence of mitigation, a sanction at the top of the prescribed range would be appropriate.
The Panel nevertheless took into account the Athlete’s cooperation with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee. The evidence demonstrated that the Athlete had been transparent regarding his conduct, had attended interviews, provided full explanations of the circumstances of his offending, and responded to all investigative requests. While this cooperation did not amount to Substantial Assistance, the Panel considered it to constitute limited mitigation and deemed it relevant to the assessment of the sanction under Rule 10.9.1 ADR.
The Panel’s determination reflects the seriousness of a second intentional ADRV, the presence of Aggravating Circumstances, and the limited mitigation arising from the Athlete’s cooperation, ensuring that the sanction imposed is consistent with the ADR and the principles of proportionality applicable to repeated violations.
Accordingly, the Panel determined that the Athlete is subject to a period of Ineligibility of ten years, commencing on 22 December 2025, being the date of issuance of the decision. Credit was granted for the period of Provisional Suspension served from 2 October 2023, and all results obtained between 26 September 2023 and 2 October 2023 are Disqualified.
Sport Resolutions is the independent secretariat to the World Athletics Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal.
A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related links tab on the right-hand side.
