Nigerian Marathoner Blessing Solomon Banned for Three Years After Doping Violation
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced that Nigerian long-distance runner Blessing Solomon has been banned from competition for three years following a doping violation.
The sanction, which began on 5 February 2026, comes after Solomon tested positive for Trimetazidine, a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
The positive test was recorded on 6 December 2025 during the Abuja Premium Trust Half Marathon, where Solomon provided a urine sample that was later analyzed by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland. The lab reported the adverse finding on 20 January 2026.
The AIU confirmed that Solomon did not hold a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the substance and found no irregularities in the testing process. As a result, her results from the Abuja race have been disqualified.
Blessing Solomon is a marathon runner with a personal best of 2:55:10, set at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on 15 February 2025.
She also holds a 10km best time of 37:28.
This ban means Solomon will be ineligible to compete until 2029, marking a significant setback in her athletic career.
