Bangladesh’s weightlifting community has been hit by a major setback as Asian Games gold medalist Mabia Akter Shimanta has been banned for two years after testing positive for a prohibited substance. The Bangladesh Olympic Association confirmed the suspension, which bars her from all competitive weightlifting events. The sample that led to the sanction was collected in Riyadh after the Islamic Solidarity Games last year, where traces of banned diuretics were detected. The South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization’s Result Management Committee imposed the penalty under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations.

Officials said the process followed all required procedures, and Mabia has been formally notified of the decision. Under international anti-doping rules, she retains the right to appeal. Experts noted that banned substances can sometimes appear in the body due to unintentional use of medication or contaminated supplements.

At 26, Mabia faces a major career setback but could seek reconsideration through appeal. She began her weightlifting career in 2010 and has been a dominant national athlete since 2013, winning gold medals for Bangladesh in the 2016 and 2019 South Asian Games.