The 25-year-old, who won silver in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was informed of the suspension on 18 September. The AIU confirmed the decision on Friday.
Under anti-doping regulations, elite athletes are required to provide accurate information about their location so they can be tested out of competition. Accumulating three whereabouts failures — whether through missed tests, filing failures or a combination of both — within a 12-month period constitutes an anti-doping rule violation and can result in a ban of up to two years.
A representative for Samba-Mayela stated that the case relates solely to administrative whereabouts requirements and not to the use of any prohibited substance. The athlete has never returned a positive doping test and is cooperating fully with the ongoing process.
“The procedure mentioned is ongoing before the AIU and concerns exclusively administrative whereabouts requirements, and not the use of any substance whatsoever,” the representative said. “She continues to respond within the allotted timeframes and to co-operate fully.”
Samba-Mayela has not competed since July and withdrew from the European Championships in Birmingham due to a calf injury. She was France’s only athletics medallist at the Paris Olympics and also claimed the European 100m hurdles title in Rome in 2024.
The provisional suspension means she is currently barred from competing while the case proceeds. A potential two-year ban could affect her participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The French Athletics Federation said it noted the decision and would allow the independent process to run its course.
Samba-Mayela’s case highlights the strict whereabouts obligations placed on athletes in the Registered Testing Pool and the serious consequences of failing to meet those requirements, even in the absence of any positive test.