The Uzbekistan Boxing Federation is defending Olympic gold medalist Lazizbek Mullojonov after he tested positive for a banned steroid, saying he may have ingested “prohibited doping substances” during a hair transplant last year. 

The federation responded this week to online commentary about Mullojonov’s case, which threatens to tarnish his heavyweight victory at the Paris games last year. The boxer has been suspended under international anti-doping codes pending the outcome of the investigation. Some media reports have said he could lose his Olympic medal if a doping violation is confirmed, though Uzbek boxing officials say his Olympic result won’t be affected.

“On June 11 of this year, a doping test was taken from our athlete according to international doping rules, and an information letter was submitted to the International Testing Agency (ITA) indicating the presence of prohibited substances based on the test results,” said the federation, stating that Mullojonov had “always” complied with doping rules. 

“Our athlete underwent a hair transplant surgery on November 19, 2024, at a private clinic in Fergana city after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It is assumed that during the four-stage surgery and postoperative treatments, he took medications provided by the clinic for treatment, which may have contained some prohibited doping substances.” 

On July 29, the International Testing Agency said it informed Mullojonov that he had tested positive for methasterone, a steroid that can promote fast muscle growth and increased strength. It said he had the right to request an analysis of a second sample, which would confirm or contradict the first test, and that he can also provide explanations for a positive test. 

In line with the World Anti-Doping Code and World Boxing anti-doping rules, “a mandatory provisional suspension has been imposed on the athlete,” said the testing agency, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mullojonov can challenge the provisional suspension, it said. 

The boxer had reached the quarterfinals of the Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the tournament said on July 27. Two days ago, in an apparent reference to Mullojonov, it said that there was one “adverse finding” among 95 anti-doping tests that had been conducted in connection with the tournament and an investigation is ongoing. 

“The Tournament participant whose sample yielded the adverse finding had won his bouts in Phases 1 and 2. He will not participate in Phase 3,” said the tournament, which is organized by the World Boxing Council. Phase 3 is the quarterfinals stage.

 Mullojonov, 26, also won gold in the super-heavyweight category at the Asian Championships in 2022. Now he awaits a final decision on what the International Testing Agency called “an apparent anti-doping rule violation.”