SA Games gold medallist Mabia slapped with two-year ban

Two-time South Asian Games gold-winning weightlifter from Bangladesh Mabia Akter has been handed a two-year ban after testing positive in a doping test. The athlete confirmed the news to The Daily Star.

The sample was reportedly collected prior to the Islamic Solidarity Games last October. On Thursday, the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) formally informed Mabia of the suspension through an official letter.

"I was undergoing medical treatment for a knee injury for seven to eight months while the sample was taken in October, 2025," Mabia told The Daily Star.

“I was taking medication prescribed by a doctor and had informed the medical department. On January 15, the BOA notified me that the drug contained a prohibited substance. However, no specific explanation was provided. I researched it myself and found that such medication is used to reduce water retention in the body,” she added.

While she has received the notification from the BOA, she is yet to receive any direct documentation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The news has not sat well with senior officials of the Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation. Requesting anonymity, a high-ranking official expressed skepticism regarding the local testing process.

“Mabia is an international gold medallist who competes regularly on the global stage. She undergoes frequent doping tests and has never tested positive before. This development raises questions about the testing procedures conducted here in Bangladesh,” the official said.

Mabia, who debuted for the national team in 2012, has won five international gold medals, including back-to-back golds in the 2016 and 2019 SA Games. This ban represents the most significant hurdle in her storied career.