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Penny Oleksiak withdraws from swimming worlds citing whereabouts case with World Aquatics

Canada’s Penny Oleksiak Withdraws from World Aquatics Championships Due to Whereabouts Issue

Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the upcoming world aquatics championships due to a whereabouts issue under anti-doping rules, she announced on social media Friday. The 25-year-old Toronto native, who is Canada’s most decorated female Olympian, stated that the issue does not involve any banned substances and emphasized her commitment to clean sport.

Swimming Canada confirmed that Oleksiak was not sanctioned but chose to withdraw voluntarily. CEO Suzanne Paulins explained that Oleksiak had failed to keep her whereabouts information fully up to date with World Aquatics, describing it as an “administrative mistake.” While expressing support for Oleksiak’s decision, Paulins stressed the importance of athletes complying with anti-doping regulations to maintain fair competition.

\”We believe she is a clean athlete who made an administrative mistake,\” Paulins stated. \”Participating at world championships could potentially affect team results if an anti-doping rule violation is determined, so we respect Penny’s decision to prioritize the team’s success.\”

According to Paulins, athletes are responsible for submitting accurate whereabouts filings on time to avoid sanctions and uphold the integrity of the sport. Both Swimming Canada and Oleksiak are committed to upholding anti-doping rules as outlined by the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, World Aquatics, and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The world championships are scheduled to take place from July 11 to August 3 in Singapore, showcasing top swimmers from around the globe. Oleksiak, a seven-time Olympic medallist and nine-time world championship medallist, will be missed at the event but remains focused on maintaining her clean athlete status.

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