Ysaora Thibus is one of the great chances of winning the title for the French delegation in these Paris Olympics.
The Frenchwoman Ysaora Thibus is one of the great chances of the French delegation for the JO 2024 with the foil events starting on July 28 at the Grand Palais in Paris. But the Frenchwoman’s journey to the Olympics has been very complicated. The fencer was suspended last February after testing positive for ostarine and then cleared on May 21.
Problem, the anti-doping agency has appealed this non-sanction and is requesting a 4-year suspension, but the Frenchwoman will still be able to participate in the Olympic Games. The WADA did not request a provisional suspension in the appeal notification received today (Monday, Editor’s note),” specified Me Thierry Chiron. The foil fencer can therefore participate in the women’s Olympic foil tournament on Sunday as well as in the team event the following Thursday, but risks the cancellation of a possible medal in the event of a sanction on appeal, according to several sources close to anti-doping.
The 2022 individual world champion had pleaded contamination by bodily fluids with her partner Race Imboden. The former American fencer had “admitted to secretly taking MK2866 (another name for ostarine, editor’s note) to develop his muscles which had not been stimulated for a year and his retirement”. “From the moment that Ysaora is not suspended, that she is physically ready to participate in the Games, there was no reason to oust her, confided a federation executive. Any other decision would have been arbitrary” explained the Fencing Federation.