Olympic bronze medallist Alysha Newman has been provisionally suspended after failing to comply with anti-doping whereabouts requirements, athletics authorities have confirmed.
The Canadian pole vault star, who gained widespread attention after joining OnlyFans and going viral during the Paris Olympics, is now facing uncertainty over her competitive future.
Newman, 31, was issued a Notice of Allegation on Tuesday by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the body responsible for enforcing anti-doping and integrity rules within the sport.
The notice relates specifically to whereabouts failures, which occur when athletes do not provide accurate or timely location information required for out-of-competition drug testing.
Under World Athletics and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, elite athletes must regularly submit detailed whereabouts information so testing officials can locate them at any time.
This includes designating a daily 60-minute testing window during which they must be available at a specified location.
If an athlete is not present during that window, or if their location details are incomplete or incorrect, it can result in a missed test or filing failure.
Multiple failures within a 12-month period can lead to sanctions, even if no banned substances are found.
Athletics Canada confirmed it is aware of Newman’s provisional suspension and issued a statement acknowledging the situation.
“While Athletics Canada provides ongoing guidance and reminders to athletes on the requirements for declaring whereabouts, the athlete is ultimately responsible for providing the information in a timely manner as required,” a spokesperson said.
“This is an unfortunate situation. Athletics Canada hopes to see Alysha Newman back as part of our National Team Program when she is eligible.”
The suspension comes just months after Newman achieved one of the biggest milestones of her career at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won bronze in the women’s pole vault.
Her performance made history, as she became the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in the event. Her clearance of 4.85 metres also set a new Canadian national record.
Newman has represented Canada at three Olympic Games—Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024—and previously won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, cementing her status as one of the country’s most accomplished field athletes.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Newman has drawn significant public attention for her off-track ventures.
During the 2024 Olympic Games, she went viral after celebrating a successful jump with a twerking dance that sparked debate across social media and within the athletics community.
She further fueled discussion by joining OnlyFans in 2024, becoming one of several elite athletes to use the subscription-based platform to supplement their income.
Newman has been open about her reasons, saying traditional amateur sport structures often limit athletes’ earning potential.
“I never loved how amateur athletes can never make a lot of money,” she told the Associated Press last year. “This is where my entrepreneurial skills came in.”
Newman reportedly charges subscribers £9.55 ($12.99) per month and has stated that the platform allows her greater financial independence without affecting her commitment to sport.
Originally from London, Ontario, Newman has also crossed into mainstream popular culture, being named to Maxim’s Hot 100 list in 2021.
At this stage, the provisional suspension does not represent a final ruling. Newman will have the opportunity to respond to the allegation, and the case will proceed through the AIU’s disciplinary process.
If the whereabouts failures are confirmed, potential sanctions could include a suspension period, depending on the number and timing of the violations.
For now, Newman’s competitive status remains on hold as the investigation continues, marking a dramatic turn following what was meant to be a career-defining Olympic season.