By David Awopetu
American Olympic 100 metres hurdles gold medallist Brianna McNeal has been charged and provisionally suspended for violating World Athletics’ Anti-Doping rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Thursday.
The AIU said the 29-year-old McNeal, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was also world champion in 2013, was charged with “tampering within the results management process”.
The AIU did not elaborate on the charge.
McNeal, 29, won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was also world champion three years earlier.
She missed the 2017 World Championships while serving a one-year ban for missing three drug tests.
Tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control carries a ban of up to four years if proved.
As McNeal has served a ban in the past, if found guilty she could face a ban of up to eight years.
She was disqualified from the 100m hurdles at the 2019 worlds in Doha after a false start in qualification.
