Gerald Phiri, a former sprinter who represented Zambia at the Olympics and now a USATF-licensed coach at Montverde Academy in Florida, has been provisionally suspended as part of a joint doping investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit and US Anti-Doping Agency.

According to a release by the anti-doping organization, three of his athletes tested positive for banned substances, which triggered a broader investigation into his role in potential anti-doping violations.

Here’s what you need to know

– Competed for Zambia at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, reaching the 100m semi-finals in London.

– According to the release: Between July 2023 – August 2024, three athletes under Phiri’s coaching tested positive for GW1516 (Cardarine), a prohibited metabolic modulator. The AIU alleges Phiri personally possessed GW1516 (2018-19) and Meldonium (2024). He is also accused of providing false information and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

– Phiri coached Issam Asinga, who broke the U20 world record in the 100m in 2023 with a 9.89s performance at the South American Championships but later tested positive for GW1516. The positive test came from a sample he provided before becoming the youngest person to break 10 seconds for the 100m. He appealed the suspension to the AIU’s disciplinary tribunal but a four-year doping ban was upheld. Asinga alleged that the positive test came as a result of consuming contaminated “recovery gummies” that were given to him at an awards ceremony by Gatorade. He later sued the Gatorade Company in July 2024. Gatorade responded by saying it cooperated with the investigation and provided the AIU with a sealed container of the gummies from the same lot after the AIU ruling and the samples came back negative.

– Phiri was provisionally suspended on March 17, 2025.

– He can appeal by submitting a written response to AIU.

– As the investigation continues, the USADA and AIU could expand their probe into other athletes he coached.

– Phiri has yet to comment publicly on the allegations.

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