Weightlifter Mabia Akhter Simanta banned for two years

Bangladesh weightlifter and two-time South Asian Games gold medallist Mabia Akhter Simanta has been handed a two-year ban after testing positive for prohibited substances, the anti-doping authorities confirmed.

The sanction follows a test conducted on October 29 last year ahead of the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The sample was collected at the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) headquarters.

According to reports from the South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (SARADO), traces of 'furosemide' and 'canrenone'—both banned diuretics—were detected in her system. The substances are commonly used for rapid fluid loss and weight reduction.

Based on the findings, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) imposed a two-year suspension from all forms of weightlifting competition. Simanta received the official ban notice on April 9.

The athlete, however, has denied wrongdoing and said she will appeal the decision. She claimed the substances were taken under medical advice for a knee injury.

“I was undergoing treatment for my knee. There was fluid buildup, and I was under medication for 8–9 months based on a doctor’s prescription,” she said.

She also questioned the clarity of the suspension, saying it was not specified whether she is barred from domestic or international competition, and confirmed she will seek legal recourse.

Simanta, who made her national team debut in 2012, is one of Bangladesh’s most successful weightlifters with five international gold medals. She won consecutive South Asian Games gold medals in 2016 (Guwahati) and 2019 (Nepal), establishing herself as a key figure in the sport.