British Virgin Islands sprinting sensation Adaejah Hodge has been stripped of her gold and silver medals from the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships after testing positive for two prohibited substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Monday.
The 19-year-old, a University of Georgia student, received a two-year suspension for the banned compounds GW501516 sulfone and sulfoxide, backdated to August 30, 2024. Notably, all parties agreed that Hodge’s ingestion of the substances was unintentional, and her cooperation resulted in seven months of her suspension being waived. She is now eligible to return to competition on January 28, 2026.
Championship results overturned
As a result of the sanction, Hodge’s medals from the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, have been disqualified, triggering a reshuffling of the podium.
Jamaican sprinting star Shanoya Douglas, who had originally claimed bronze in the 200 meters with a time of 23.10 seconds, is set to be upgraded to silver. Hodge had crossed the line first in 22.74 seconds, ahead of Australia’s Torrie Lewis, who took silver in 22.88 seconds. Another Australian, Jessica Milat, originally fourth, is expected to move onto the podium as well.
In the 100 meters, Barbadian sprinter Kishawna Niles, who had finished third behind Hodge, will now be awarded the silver medal, further reflecting the ripple effects of Hodge’s disqualification.
Stellar NCAA performance clouded by sanction
The announcement comes just days after Hodge made headlines at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where she helped the Georgia Bulldogs claim the team title. She contributed significant points with a runner-up finish in the 60 meters and a win in the 200 meters, clocking 22.21 seconds in the latter, a mark that places her fourth on the all-time collegiate list and sixth on the all-time world list.
Hodge’s collegiate achievements underscore the duality of her athletic prowess and the challenges posed by anti-doping compliance.
A decorated junior career under scrutiny
Hodge’s trajectory has been closely watched since her early success. She won the prestigious Austin Sealy Award at the 2022 CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, as an Under-17 athlete, cementing her status as one of the Caribbean’s brightest sprinting prospects.
With the AIU ruling now finalized, her international results from 2024 will stand corrected, while Douglas, Niles, and other athletes impacted by the original podium positions will have their performances officially upgraded.
The sanction serves as a reminder of the importance of anti-doping vigilance, even for rising stars with promising careers ahead.
