Ana Barbosu Provisionally Suspended for Three Whereabouts Failures
The International Testing Agency provisionally suspended Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu after she committed three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, the agency announced Thursday. The 19-year-old faces a potential ban from the sport over the missed drug testing opportunities. Barbosu plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Barbosu gained prominence during the women's floor exercise final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Aug. 5, when a series of scoring inquiries altered the bronze medal outcome. She initially believed she had secured the medal before a U.S. coach's appeal elevated American Jordan Chiles' score. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later ruled the inquiry came after the one-minute deadline, prompting the International Olympic Committee to strip Chiles of the bronze, which Team USA has since challenged.
Barbosu received the bronze medal following the IOC's determination. She recently moved to the United States to attend Stanford University.
In an Instagram story posted after the ITA announcement, Barbosu stated the matter involved no prohibited substances and stemmed from challenges adjusting to her college transition. She expressed gratitude for support during the process.
