Vanessa Sarno's faces two-year ban for anti-doping violation; PH weightlifting body explains

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella clarified national athlete Vanessa Sarno’s two-year suspension announced by the International Testing Agency (ITA), confirming that the sanction stemmed from an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).

In a statement, the ITA said that the 21-year-old Filipina weightlifter’s violation was not a failed drug test but for repeatedly failing to report her whereabouts to the testing body.

"Vanessa Sarno committed three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. The athlete did not challenge the ADRV and agreed with the consequences proposed by the ITA," the body said, adding that the case was already resolved as Sarno has accepted the consequences.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Puentevella confirmed ITA’s explanation, noting that Sarno’s failure to submit her quarterly whereabouts report led to the suspension.

Puentevella explained that national team athletes, like Sarno, competing internationally are required to regularly submit their whereabouts, including details on whether they underwent drug testing and the corresponding results.

"She failed to report. After the Olympics, every lifter in the national team who performs in an international competition always has to report. We call these whereabouts," Puentevella said.

"We have to report their quarterly training to the ITA, basta nasa national team, so they can join the international events. In her case, she did not report anymore."

Puentevella added that the SWP will no longer appeal Sarno’s case.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to Sarno for comment on the matter.

Sarno has represented the Philippines in a number of international tournaments, including her Olympic debut in Paris 2024, where she bowed out early after registering a DNF (did not finish).

?She has also competed in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and captured a pair of gold medals in the 2022 edition in Vietnam and in 2023 in Cambodia. In 2021, she also bagged two gold medals in the 71kg category at the Asian Weightlifting Championships.

With Sarno sidelined until August 3, 2027, the team will miss one of its contenders for the SEA Games in Thailand this December.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News