The International Testing Agency -ITA-, which independently manages the anti-doping programme of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation -JJIF-, has notified Kuwaiti athlete Amer Alhajri of an apparent anti-doping rule violation after several prohibited substances were detected in a sample collected during the 2026 Asian Championships. The in-competition test was carried out on 17 July and the analysis found metabolites of drostanolone and tamoxifen, as well as 19-norandrosterone and anastrozole.
Drostanolone and 19-norandrosterone fall under section S1.1, Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, of the 2026 Prohibited List issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency -WADA-. Anastrozole is listed under section S4.1 as an aromatase inhibitor, while tamoxifen appears under S4.2 as an anti-estrogenic substance. All four are prohibited both in and out of competition. The ITA statement groups them together as non-specified substances, although the WADA List establishes that substances under S1.1 are non-specified, while those under S4.1 and S4.2 are specified substances.
The B Sample and the right to provide an explanation
Alhajri has been informed of the result and may request the analysis of his B Sample. If he does so and it confirms the contents of the A Sample, the adverse analytical finding will be considered confirmed and the results management process will continue. The procedure will also advance if the athlete waives his right to have the second sample analysed. A confirmed finding does not, by itself, determine the final sanction.
The athlete will have the opportunity to provide explanations and submit documentation concerning the origin of the substances detected. While the case is being processed, he is subject to a mandatory provisional suspension under the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 7.4.1 of the JJIF Anti-Doping Rules. The measure does not yet constitute a final sanction, and Alhajri retains the right to challenge it and request that it be lifted.
ITA takes responsibility for the entire case
The JJIF delegated the independent management of its anti-doping programme to the ITA as part of a collaboration that began in January 2019. The international agency will handle the case in its entirety, including the possible analysis of the B Sample, the assessment of the athlete’s explanations and the presentation of the case before the body responsible for determining its consequences.
The proceedings remain ongoing and neither a definitive anti-doping rule violation nor a sanction has yet been established. The provisional suspension will remain in place while the next stages are completed unless the athlete successfully challenges it. The ITA has announced that it will make no further comments on the case at this stage of the process.
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