Ahmadkohani called up for national camp as doping ban nears end
Iranian gymnast Mahdi Ahmadkohani has been called up to the national team training camp as his two-year suspension for an anti-doping whereabouts violation nears its conclusion.
The 28-year-old, a two-time rings silver medalist in the 2023 FIG World Cup series, received a 24-month ban from the International Testing Agency (ITA). The sanction, which expires on February 21, was imposed after he accrued three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period.
Considered a key prospect for an Olympic quota in Paris 2024, Ahmadkohani had earned a place in the rings final at the World Cup event in Cottbus, Germany, in February 2024 before being withdrawn due to the FIG anti-doping rules.
Reflecting on the incident at the time, Ahmadkohani stated, “Unfortunately, I had not entered the necessary information on the anti-doping website regarding my residence and training location, which led to my suspension.”
His return to the national camp renews hopes among Iranian fans for an Olympic berth at Los Angeles 2028. Mahdi Olfati secured Iran’s first-ever Olympic quota in artistic gymnastics for the Paris Games and finished seventh in the men’s vault final.