Vietnamese gymnast banned for 24 months due to doping

According to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Tran Ha Vi, a Vietnamese gymnast, has been banned from competition for 24 months due to a positive doping test.

Administrator

23 March, 2024

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The ban was imposed as a result of a positive test sample taken on September 16, 2023 during the 2023 FIG Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where Vi won a gold medal in the women’s singles event for the Vietnam team.

The FIG notice revealed that Vi’s sample contained four banned substances: hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide, amiloride, and sibutramine.

Vi’s ban will be lifted on November 15, 2025.

As a result, all of her performances from September 16, 2023 onward were nullified, including her 2023 FIG Asian Championship gold medal.

A representative from the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation attributed Vi’s positive test to her unauthorized use of medication without reporting it.

“The federation has required Vi to provide a report on the incident,” the official said.

“We heard that she had allegedly taken medicine for a urinary tract infection before the tournament without informing the coaching staff.”

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reached out to Tran Chien Thang, president of the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation, but he declined to respond.

Born in 2002, Vi is recognized as one of Vietnam’s talented gymnasts, having achieved significant success in 11 tournaments between 2011 and 2016, including seven international competitions where she secured 12 gold medals, six silver medals, and two bronze medals in both singles and team events.

She earned a silver medal at the 2022 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Vietnam and clinched a gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.