The International Testing Agency (ITA) has announced that Filipino weightlifting star Vanessa Sarno has accepted a two-year ban from competition following three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period which is a violation of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Anti-Doping Rules.
According to the ITA, Sarno committed the violations under Article 2.4 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules, which concern athletes’ responsibilities to provide accurate daily whereabouts information for out-of-competition testing.
The 21-year-old rising star did not challenge the charge and accepted the sanction as part of a resolution known as "acceptance of consequences."
Sarno’s ineligibility period begins on August 4, 2025, and will run through August 3, 2027. In addition, all results achieved between January 1, 2025, and the start of her suspension will be disqualified, including the forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes earned during that span.
The ban comes as a significant blow to Philippine weightlifting, which has been riding high in recent years following the success of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. Sarno, widely regarded as the sport’s next big name, had already captured two SEA Games gold medals (Vietnam 2022, Cambodia 2023) and double gold in the 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships in the 71kg category.
However, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella stated an explanation for Sarno’s non-compliance.
In a statement, he revealed that Sarno is currently pregnant which is a personal development he said contributed directly to her repeated failures to comply with testing requirements.
While the ITA does not list pregnancy as a defense under anti-doping regulations for whereabouts failures, athletes can accept sanctions without contesting the details, which Sarno has done.
With Sarno sidelined, the Philippine weightlifting team will be missing one of its premier talents in December’s SEA Games in Thailand and other major international competitions leading up to 2027. Her absence could reshape the team’s medal projections and athlete lineup for the next two years.
The decision may still be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), though at present, there is no indication that Sarno or any other involved party plans to do so.
The ITA, in line with policy, stated it would not provide further comment on the case.
