Doping penalty of 21 months handed to bobsled driver Wulff - Criminal slide for bobsledder Wulff: A period of 21 months suspension due to doping infraction
In a shocking turn of events, German bobsleigh athlete Simon Wulff has been banned from competition for 21 months, starting from the date of his positive doping test in December 2024 at the World Cup in Altenberg.
The ban, announced by the German Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (BSD), comes after Wulff tested positive for Methylhexanamin, a substance that is allowed in training but banned in competition. The substance was detected during the World Cup event in Altenberg.
Despite significant efforts, the source of the substance could not be definitively identified. Wulff himself stated he could not explain how the substance entered his body, and no evidence of intentional use was found. He has consistently denied knowingly taking the substance.
The ban will prevent Wulff from competing with Bob dominator Francesco Friedrich at the Winter Olympics in Dresden in February 2025. The ban, which was originally set to start from September 2022, will now begin from the date of the sample collection.
The ban could potentially impact the overall World Cup ranking of Friedrich's team. The BSD is currently awaiting an official decision from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) on how the ban will affect the team's points in the overall World Cup.
Following the positive test result, Wulff was immediately put on leave by the BSD to prevent any potential retroactive sanctions against the team. Team training for Wulff will be possible from July 7, 2026. Wulff will be eligible to compete again starting from September 7, 2026.
It is important to note that the World Federation did not impose a provisional suspension on Wulff. The German National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has warned about Methylhexanamin since 2010, emphasising the importance of athletes being aware of the substances they are consuming, even if they are unintentionally ingested.
Wulff, a former track and field athlete, has cooperated throughout the entire process of the ban. The BSD accepted the provisional ban and will continue to support Wulff during this challenging time.
