18 MARCH 2025, MONACO: The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended former Zambian Olympian and current USA Track & Field (USATF) licensed coach, Gerald Phiri, as part of an ongoing joint investigation with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) triggered by three athletes – all coached by Phiri – returning Adverse Analytical Findings for the same prohibited substance.
Between July 2023 and August 2024, three track athletes tested positive for Metabolites of GW1516 (also known as Cardarine), a Metabolic Modulator, which is a non-specified substance prohibited at all times under the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
At this stage of the investigation, the AIU alleges that Phiri has committed Anti-Doping Rules Violations for the Possession of GW1516 when he was an Athlete in 2018 and 2019; the Possession of Meldonium (another Metabolic Modulator) as an Athlete Support Person in 2024; and for failing to co-operate with the investigation by providing false and inaccurate information.
Phiri has been provisionally suspended as of 17 March 2025. In accordance with the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, he has the right to make a written submission to the AIU to lift his Provisional Suspension.
PROVISIONAL SUSPENSIONS PAGE
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS INTEGRITY UNIT
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the independent body created by the World Athletics that manages all integrity issues – both doping and non-doping – for the sport of athletics. The remit of the AIU includes anti-doping, the pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation, investigating fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detecting other misconduct including bribery and breaches of betting rules. It is the AIU’s role to drive cheats out of our sport, and to do everything within its power to support honest athletes around the world who dedicate their lives to reaching their sporting goals through dedication and hard work.