Vanessa Sarno accepts two-year weightlifting suspension

FILE – Filipino weightlifting Vanessa Sarno during her 2023 SEA Games title defense. —TEAM PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Olympic weightlifter Vanessa Sarno has accepted a two-year ban from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) after committing whereabouts failures, a sanction not related to drug use.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) said Sarno missed three whereabouts filings within a 12-month period, a lapse that came while she was pregnant. She did not contest the violation and agreed to the sanction.

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Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said that Sarno has given birth.

“Failure to report her whereabouts every quarter as per the rules for international lifters,” he said. “She gave birth, that’s why. Not a drug case. Non-analytical ito,” Puentevella said in a text message to Inquirer.

The 21-year-old Sarno won’t be able to compete until August 3, 2027. She is set to miss this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, 2026 Asian Games, Asian Weightlifting Championships, and other Los Angeles Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Vanessa Sarno of the the Philippines competes during the women’s 71kg weightlifting event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

“The athlete did not challenge the ADRV and agreed with the consequences proposed by the ITA. Accordingly, the case was resolved via an acceptance of consequences,” ITA wrote.

“Additionally, all the athlete’s individual competitive results from the date of commission of the ADRV (1 January 2025) until the start of the period of ineligibility are disqualified including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes.”

Puentevella added that Elreen Ando will likely move up in weight to replace Sarno for the 2028 Olympics.

Sarno, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist and 2020 Asian Championships winner, competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics’ women’s 71-kilogram event but didn’t clear any of her first lifts.