The 2023 Pacific Games was held in Solomon Islands. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koroi Hawkins
Two Pacific Island athletes have lost medals they won at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands after doping test results showed they had used performance-enhancing drugs.
Nauru's Mahaasin Daoe, gold medalist in the men's 66-kilogram powerlifting event, and Tahiti's Tumatai Dauphin, silver medalist in the men's shotput, have had their medals stripped.
They will also miss the 2025 Mini Games in Palau and likely to also miss out of the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, unless the event is held in the third quarter of that year.
Pacific Games Council chief executive Andrew Minogue confirmed the news to RNZ Pacific on Monday.
"Following the respective hearings, the Disputes Tribunal has disqualified both athletes from the 2023 Pacific Games and imposed a three-year period of ineligibility for Pacific Games competitions through until the second quarter of 2027," Minogue said.
"The standard four-year period of ineligibility was reduced to three years as per the PGC Anti-Doping rules due to the pleadings and co-operative evidence provided by both athletes."
He said the Games' results and medal tally have been adjusted.
Kiribati's Kaiti Tentau has been elevated to be the gold medal winner in the men's 66kg powerlifting, with Rocky Ramo of the Solomon Islands now the silver medallist and Fiji's Vinesh Chand claiming the bronze.
In the shotput event, Dauphin loses his silver medal to Samoa's Nathaniel Sulupo, while Nauru's Jonathan Detageouwa is the new bronze medallist.
Minogue said officials have ruled that there was no intent on the part the two disqualified athletes to cheat by using performance-enhancing drugs, but added the two had broken the rules.
He said if the respective home federations decide to punish the duo respectively then that could mean the two missing out of the 2027 Games.
However, if there are no further punishment dished out, then the two athletes could be competing for their home nations against in Papeete in three years time.
