Five athletes have tested positive for prohibited substances in the first five months of 2025, according to figures presented in parliament by Sports Minister Clifton Grima. The information came in response to a parliamentary question tabled by Opposition MP David Agius, who requested data on doping cases involving athletes in Malta over the past two years.
Out of 260 anti-doping tests carried out so far this year by the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports (AIMS), five returned positive results. This follows six doping-related suspensions in 2024, where athletes were found to have used substances including cannabis and cocaine.
AIMS is Malta’s national anti-doping body, responsible for overseeing the integrity of sport through regular testing and the enforcement of anti-doping regulations. Samples are sent for analysis to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Austria. A public list of sanctioned athletes and banned substances is maintained on the authority’s website.
The process of doping control typically involves the athlete providing a urine sample of at least 60 millilitres, which is split into two containers (A and B samples) and securely sealed in the presence of a doping control officer. The athlete is monitored throughout the process to ensure the integrity of the sample and must sign documentation to confirm that the procedure was conducted correctly. Refusing to provide a sample or tampering with the process is considered a serious anti-doping rule violation and results in an automatic ban, regardless of whether any banned substances are detected.
Athletes are also reminded that it is their responsibility to be fully aware of what substances they are ingesting. Banned substances may be present in medications, supplements, or even contaminated food. There have been cases internationally and locally where athletes tested positive due to accidental ingestion, reinforcing the importance of vigilance and informed decision-making.
Those needing medication for health reasons must consult the WADA Prohibited List, which is updated regularly and available at www.wada-ama.org. In specific circumstances, athletes may apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), allowing them to use certain substances for legitimate medical purposes.
In 2024, six athletes tested positive from a total of 274 tests. Notable cases included handball players Rafael Mota Lacerda and Katrina Vyoralova, both suspended for two years. Lacerda tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a cannabis metabolite, while Vyoralova was found to have pseudoephedrine and cathine in her system, compounds found in common cold medications and appetite suppressants.
Basketball players Mason Asher Hix and Nicholas Brennen were also handed two-year suspensions after testing positive for cannabis-related substances. Meanwhile, rower Nigel Sant tested positive for both cocaine and drostanolone, a steroid typically used for performance enhancement.
Despite the legalisation of cannabis for personal use in Malta in 2021, its presence in an athlete’s system during competition is still considered a doping offence under WADA guidelines.
These findings underscore the continued importance of anti-doping education. Athletes must take full responsibility for their bodies, know their rights, and comply fully with testing procedures to protect the fairness and credibility of sport.
