Rio 2016 bronze medalist in taekwondo, Maikon Sikera, has been sanctioned for two years due to missed doping tests, according to the Associated Press. The Brazilian athlete failed to provide a sample for three unannounced tests within a year, leading to his disqualification, as reported by the International Testing Agency (ITA), which oversees the anti-doping program for World Taekwondo. The 33-year-old athlete is banned until January 18, 2028, as stated in the ITA's press release.
Sikera won the bronze medal in the men's under 80 kg category at the Olympics in his home country a decade ago and secured a team gold with Brazil at the Pan American Games in 2023. It is unclear if he was still competing when he missed the doping tests. Under the global anti-doping system, athletes must declare a one-hour testing pool each day when they will be available to provide a sample. Three missed tests within a 12-month period can be considered a violation of anti-doping rules.
