Portuguese Olympic canoeist Francisca Laia banned for four years for doping

“The ITA informs that Portuguese canoeist Francisca Laia has accepted a four-year suspension after testing positive for a dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone (DHCMT) metabolite,” the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced in a statement on Thursday. The substance, an anabolic androgenic steroid, is used to improve physical performance.

The agency also confirms that, on behalf of the International Canoe Federation, by not contesting, the athlete accepted the consequences imposed for her violation of anti-doping regulations, in a suspension that began on May 30, 2025 and runs until May 29, 2029.

The case dates back to August 25, 2024, when she underwent a control at the non-Olympic distance World Championships held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in which the metabolite of DHCMT was detected.

In Samarkand, the Portuguese canoeist won the silver medal in K2 200 together with Teresa Portela and the bronze in the mixed K4 500 with Teresa, Fernando Pimenta and Messias Baptista, results that were nullified by this sanction.

The ITA’s decision may further be subject to appeal to the Appellate Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.