Just over two weeks after Owen Ansah claimed victory in the 100m and 200m events at the German championships in Bochum, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of Germany released a formal proposal. The agency said it was recommending a four-year suspension for the sprinter, citing a potential anti-doping infraction. The German Athletics Association confirmed this Friday, marking the latest development in a high-profile case.
Ansah, currently the holder of the German 100m record, is part of the team set to compete in the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham starting August 10. The controversy arose during a race in Monaco on July 9, where he was due to compete in the Golden League. A doping official showed up unexpectedly, outside the specific time window Ansah had provided. He claimed he was in a rush, had just used the bathroom, and could not provide a sample due to the lack of time and the situation.
NADA has taken the position that Ansah did not cooperate with the test, which it says breaches the German Athletics Association's anti-doping code. The agency clarified that if its proposed four-year suspension is accepted, it would be reduced to three years. Importantly, the suspension would not take effect until a final decision is made—either by NADA or by the relevant disciplinary body.
Ansah’s legal representative, Rainer Tarek Cherkeh, has stated that his client will not agree to the recommendation. He emphasized that Ansah never refused to take a doping test or to provide a sample. According to Cherkeh, the sprinter was tested the following day in Monaco by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and then tested again by NADA on Monday. Ansah insists the initial test was improperly timed and unnecessary under the circumstances.
If NADA’s proposal is accepted in full, it would lead to the annulment of all of Ansah’s results from July 9 onward. This includes the two national titles he captured in Bochum at the end of July. The athlete now has 20 days to decide whether to accept the suspension or request a hearing before the German Sports Arbitration Court.