29 year-old Samah Khaled (Dubai Police Cycling Team) has been provisionally suspended after a sample taken from her on 22 April tested positive for the anabolic steroid Oxandrolone, according to a UCI Provisional Suspension and Anti-doping Rule Violation announcement.

Khaled not only rides for the newly formed UCI Dubai Police Cycling Team, The National News reports she also works for the Dubai Police department and won the amateur UCI Gran Fondo World Series Spinneys Dubai 92 Gran Fondo in 2018. Before the pandemic cancelled the 2020 racing season she won the amateur UAE Liwa Cycling Sportive as well.

Oxandrolone is a man-made anabolic steroid, similar to naturally occurring testosterone. It is often referred to as the “female testosterone” since it promotes the growth of muscle tissue and mass. Oxandrolone causes very few masculine side affects (facial hair, body hair, acne, deep voice, etc.), making it popular with female athletes since masculinizing symptoms are rarely observed.

Khaled is not the only cyclist recently caught using Oxandrolone. World Anti-Doping expert and amateur bike racer Professor John Gleaves tested positive for the banned substance in 2019 and received a four year ban from the sport.

In announcing Khaled’s provisional suspension, the UCI said the Jordanian cyclist cannot participate in any cycling competition or activity until the “adjudication of her case on the merits or the lifting of the provisional suspension by the UCI Anti-Doping Commission or the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

Khaled, the Dubai Police Cycling Team and the Dubai Police have yet to comment on the matter.

PHOTOS: Dubai Police, Instagram S. Khaled

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