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Penny Oleksiak, the most decorated female Olympian in Canadian history, has accepted a two-year ban from competitive swimming for an anti-doping rule violation.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) made the announcement on Tuesday after the seven-time Olympic medalist committed three residency errors between October 2024 and June 2025.
Oleksiak’s suspension ends on July 14, 2027, which is before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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Penny Oleksiak, Olympian Swimmer, Canada, on the SportsTrade stage during day two of Collision 2023 at the Enercare Center in Toronto, Canada. (Harry Murphy/Sportsfile)
“We are committed to enforcing and supporting all anti-doping rules as outlined in the Canadian Anti-Doping Program and through World Aquatics and the World Anti-Doping Agency,” Swimming Canada CEO Suzanne Paulins said in a statement to ESPN. “While we accept Penny’s explanation that these were unintentional errors and she has not used banned substances, anti-doping rules are in place to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.
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“We will miss Penny on the national team and hope to see her back in the pool when she is eligible.”
A whereabouts failure, as defined by the World Anti-Doping Code, is when a combination of three missed tests or submission failures occurs in a 12-month period.
Oleksiak was told by the ITA about the whereabouts case earlier this year, which ultimately led to her taking a temporary suspension in July. She withdrew from the World Aquatics Championships that month.
Penny Oleksiak competes in the women’s 50m freestyle final on day seven of the 2024 Canada Olympic Swimming Trials on May 19, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“I am and always have been a pure athlete and will not comment further at this time,” Oleksiak said in July 2025 when she withdrew from the World Aquatics Championships.
Oleksiak, 25, has won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals during his Olympic career. Her seven medals are tied for the most ever, male or female, with sprinter Andre De Grasse.
Penny Oleksiak of Canada watches before competing in the women’s 100 meter freestyle final on Day 2 of the TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont at FMC Natatorium on March 6, 2025 in Westmont, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
She also has nine world championship medals, winning silver twice and collecting seven bronze during her career.
