The Tanzanian half-marathon nationwide report holder and 2024 Paris Olympian, Jackline Sakiluhas been handed a 10-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for a multifaceted doping scheme that allowed her to compete utilizing banned substances for greater than a yr.
In line with the reportSakilu first got here on the AIU’s radar after an in-competition urine pattern on the Seoul Marathon in March 2025. Her pattern initially got here again clear, however prohibited substances have been discovered following a re-test in September. This end result aligned with a second, out-of-competition pattern from August 2025, which confirmed the presence of two pure steroids, androsterone and etiocholanolone.
The AIU has banned Jackline Sakilu (Tanzania) for 10 years from 17 September 2025 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Androsterone, Etiocholanolone, 5αAdiol and 5βAdiol, metabolites of Testosterone). DQ outcomes since 29 June 2024
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— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) March 25, 2026
The 2 optimistic assessments level to the chance that Sakilu was microdosing testosterone or a associated anabolic agent to extend coaching load tolerance and protect lean mass throughout heavy mileage. Between 2022 and 2024, she knocked almost 9 minutes off her half-marathon greatest and 5 minutes off her earlier marathon private greatest of two:26:50.
The findings prompted the AIU to reanalyze earlier samples offered by Sakilu in 2024. Two of these samples additionally confirmed the presence of androsterone and etiocholanolone, relationship again to June 29, 2024. This implies Sakilu could have competed on the Paris Olympics on Aug. 11 whereas utilizing performance-enhancing medicine, with out detection.
Sakilu didn’t end the Olympic marathon, stepping off the course simply after the 15-kilometre mark.
The Tanzanian athlete attributed the optimistic assessments to medicine prescribed by a physician in her hometown of Arusha, saying she was given ibuprofen and prednisolone whereas in poor health. The AIU said that Sakilu claimed to haven’t any information of utilizing prohibited substances, no consciousness of which medicine seem on the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) Prohibited Listing, and no formal anti-doping training.
Sakilu’s ban is among the longest ever issued by the AIU. The sanction consists of two four-year bans served consecutively, together with an extra two years for what the AIU described as “aggravating circumstances.”
The 39-year-old shall be ineligible to compete in any World Athletics occasions till September 2035, and all her outcomes from June 29, 2024, shall be disqualified; nevertheless, her 66:05 half‑marathon greatest and 2024 Chongqing Marathon win will stand.
