Why was Olympic gold medalist Breezy Johnson suspended in 2023?
- - Why was Olympic gold medalist Breezy Johnson suspended in 2023?
Steve Gardner, USA TODAYFebruary 8, 2026 at 9:12 AM
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It hasn't been a smooth journey to Olympic gold for 2026 Olympic women's downhill champion Breezy Johnson.
The American star edged Emma Aicher of Germany by a razor-thin margin of 0.04 seconds on Sunday, Feb. 8, just a little over a year after returning from 14-month suspension by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Johnson − who finished seventh in the downhill in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, but didn't qualify for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing − was banned from competition starting on Oct. 10, 2023, for three separate violations of drug testing protocol over a 12-month period.
USADA policy requires an athlete to inform anti-doping authorities where they will be for at least one hour every day for unannounced out-of-competition testing. The punishment for violations can range from one to two years.
2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
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Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
">Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
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1 / 6See emotional moments of triumph and defeat at 2026 Winter Olympics
Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
Johnson's suspension was announced on May 13, 2024, with all of her competition results and prize money forfeited dating back to the previous October when her third violation occurred.
She missed all of the 2024 World Cup season, returning last year to take gold in the downhill at the World Championships − making her one of the favorites heading to Cortina.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Breezy Johnson's 2023 suspension from skiing, explained
Source: “AOL Sports”
