Gerald Phiri, former English Schools champ, suspended by anti-doping bodies – AW

Ex-sprinter grew up in Britain and raced for Zambia at the London and Rio Olympics before later becoming a coach in the United States

Gerald Phiri, a two-time English Schools 100m gold medallist who competed for Zambia at the London and Rio Olympics before becoming a coach, has been suspended amid a joint investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit and US Anti-Doping Agency.

Phiri, who is now a USA Track & Field (USATF) licensed coach, is at the centre of a doping scandal after three athletes who are coached by him tested positive for a banned drug.

The 36-year-old is described by the AIU in its press release about his anti-doping suspension as being a USATF coach, but after being born in Zambia he had spells growing up in South Africa, Wales and England before studying at Texas A&M University in the United States.

Wearing a distinctive head band, he won his first English Schools 100m title in a wind-assisted 11.07 at Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium representing the host county of South Yorkshire. Aged just 14, Phiri trained regularly on the Don Valley track at the time and three years later took another English Schools title in Gateshead in 10.75.

The winners of the English Schools titles at Gateshead in 2006 were viewed as the ideal age to make an impact at the London Olympics in 2012. Indeed, competing for Zambia internationally, he reached the semi-finals of the 100m at the London Games and four years later was knocked out in the heats at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

He also raced in several world championships – indoors and out – finishing fifth in the 60m final in Sopot in 2014. His best times were 6.52 for 60m, 10.03 for 100m and 20.29 for 200m.

An AIU statement read: “Between July 2023 and August 2024, three track athletes tested positive for Metabolites of GW1516 (also known as Cardarine), a Metabolic Modulator, which is a non-specified substance prohibited at all times under the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“At this stage of the investigation, the AIU alleges that Phiri has committed Anti-Doping Rules Violations for the Possession of GW1516 when he was an Athlete in 2018 and 2019; the Possession of Meldonium (another Metabolic Modulator) as an Athlete Support Person in 2024; and for failing to co-operate with the investigation by providing false and inaccurate information.

“Phiri has been provisionally suspended as of 17 March 2025. In accordance with the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, he has the right to make a written submission to the AIU to lift his Provisional Suspension.”

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