The Paralympic athlete who triumphed in the race at the Paris 2024 Games, leading to disqualification for Australia’s Jaryd Clifford, has been handed a three-year ban and had his gold medal rescinded after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Responding to the suspension of Spain’s Yassine Ouhdadi El Ataby, Clifford expressed his devastation, sharing that he is “heartbroken” to have competed against someone who has now been found guilty of doping. He implied that he may have retained his status in the race had Ouhdadi not been participating.
Clifford lamented that the thought of what could have been—winning silver instead of gold—feels like “a real blow.”
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed on Tuesday that Ouhdadi tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol, the same drug that led to a controversial three-month suspension for Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner earlier this year, following a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Ouhdadi’s positive test was conducted on July 28, just over a month before he claimed victory in the T13 5000m race at the Paris Paralympics.
Clostebol is listed as a prohibited substance by WADA, and it was found in Ouhdadi’s urine during an out-of-competition test.
Jaryd Clifford (in gold) and his guide runner, Matt Clarke, faced disqualification after the T13 5000m final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics for not both holding the tether as they crossed the finish line. Nine
The IPC revealed that the gold and silver medals would now be awarded to Russian athletes Aleksandr Kostin and Anton Kuliatin, who competed as neutral athletes in Paris, while bronze will go to Ecuador’s Sixto Roman Moreta Criollo.
Despite finishing in third place, Clifford, who has a vision condition known as best disease, and his guide runner, Matt Clarke, were disqualified because they failed to hold the tether as they crossed the finish line.
Following the IPC’s announcement regarding Ouhdadi’s ban, Clifford took to social media to express his feelings.
“Finding the right words for this is tough, but I will try,” he began.
“…I’m deeply affected. Competing against Yassine has significantly impacted my life. I’ve laboured hard to move past those challenging times in my career, particularly that race in Paris last year. I can’t help but think that without Yassine in that 5000m race, the outcome of that final lap could have been vastly different. Knowing that a silver medal on that day might equate to gold now feels incredibly disheartening.
Jaryd Clifford and guide runner Tim Logan, who helped him through the first half of the T13 5000m final at Paris 2024, competing against Yassine Ouhdadi El Ataby. Getty
“I am determined to keep my eyes on the future. I have often viewed those experiences with a mix of sadness and frustration, but I’ve learnt valuable lessons from those setbacks. No matter how frequently you reassess the official results, you can never modify the truth of how a race made you feel. When I imagine winning a gold medal, I don’t just envision the honour; I dream of the moment I cross the finish line, knowing every ounce of effort has paid off. While I can’t change the past, I can control the opportunities I create for my future aspirations.”
Ouhdadi has been given a three-year suspension, retroactive to September 9, 2024, the day after the closing ceremony of the Paralympics.
He will be eligible to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
Just three days after his disqualification from the T13 5000m, Clifford narrowly missed out on winning bronze in the T13 1500m, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind.
“It’s almost comical how unfortunate it has been,” Clifford remarked to reporters in Paris, reflecting on the challenges he faced during those three days.
His struggles brought him to tears, and he embraced Nine reporter Kelly Cartwright emotionally on the sidelines.
“I gathered the strength to rise from the track after the race in Paris last year because I knew I had a support network ready to help me back on my feet,” Clifford noted in his statement released on Tuesday.
“I am overwhelmed by the love I feel from so many people, especially from the communities that have stood by me throughout this journey. Your support means everything to me.
“I have an unyielding passion for wearing that green and gold singlet and putting forth my utmost effort. That will never change. Here’s to the next four years!”
Recently, in Nice, Clifford set a new world record in the T12 1500m, finishing with a time of 3:40.39.
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