21-month doping ban for bobsleigh pusher Wulff

Bobsleigh push athlete Simon Wulff has been banned for 21 months until September 2026 following his positive doping finding in December last year. This means he will also miss the Winter Olympics next February for bobsleigh dominator Francesco Friedrich.

Wulff was found to be using the substance methylhexanamine at the 2024 World Cup in Altenberg. This is permitted in training but prohibited in competition. Wulff has always denied knowingly taking it.

"Suspension accepted"

"Simon Wulff accepted the provisional suspension after the findings were announced and has shown himself to be cooperative throughout the proceedings. Even though there are no indications of intentional misconduct, the source of the substance could not be clearly identified despite considerable efforts by Simon Wulf," announced the German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation (BSD).

In accordance with the agreement between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and the athlete, the suspension will be imposed from the date of sample collection in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the IBSF Anti-Doping Rules. Simon Wulff is therefore eligible to participate in competitions again from September 7, 2026. Team training will be possible again from July 7, 2026.

NADA has been warning about methylhexanamine since 2010

"We wish Simon all the best for the time ahead. It is of course difficult when you have to prove what you have ingested five weeks after the sample was taken. Simon has been open and honest during the proceedings and we respect his decision to accept the ban," said Thomas Schwab, CEO of the BSD.

The ban has a potential impact on the overall World Cup ranking of the team around Friedrich, as Wulff was part of this team. The BSD is currently awaiting an official decision from the IBSF on how the ban will affect the points classification in the overall World Cup.

The former athlete was released by the BSD as a precautionary measure immediately after the positive sample became known in order to rule out possible retroactive sanctions against the team. The world federation had not provisionally suspended Wulff. The National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada) has been warning against methylhexanamine on its website since 2010.