For athletes, competing at the highest level takes years of training, sacrifice, and resilience.
But for Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, a decorated Ukrainian track and field star, her journey has taken a dramatic turn after being handed a lengthy suspension from the sport she has dedicated her life to.
Four-Year Ban Handed Down
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced that Bekh-Romanchuk has been banned for four years after testing positive for metabolites of testosterone from a sample collected on December 7, 2023.
The AIU had initially given her a chance to admit to the violation by August 10 in exchange for a reduced three-year suspension, but she refused to accept the charge.
Athlete Denies Doping Allegations
At 30 years old, Bekh-Romanchuk has already represented Ukraine in three Olympic Games and won silver medals at the World Championships in both long jump and triple jump.
Yet, she has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
According to her, the elevated testosterone levels in her system came from an unspecified medical condition and treatment, not from performance-enhancing drugs.
She plans to appeal the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
What the Ban Means for Her Future
If the ban stands, it could effectively end her career at the top level.
The suspension will not expire until May 2029, ruling her out of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and at least two upcoming World Championships.
Her most recent appearance on the global stage was at the Paris 2024 Games, where she finished 11th in the triple jump final.
Life Beyond Athletics
Bekh-Romanchuk may be losing years on the track, but she has built another path as a model and social media influencer.
With nearly half a million Instagram followers, she frequently collaborates with Ukrainian brands such as Domino Group, Trihard, and Fabric 17.
This presence could offer her stability as she navigates life outside professional sport.
A Sporting Power Couple
Off the track, Maryna shares her life with her husband, swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk, who is also an Olympian.
The couple celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary earlier this year and are considered one of Ukraine’s leading sports couples.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he won silver and bronze in swimming while she placed fifth in long jump, highlighting their shared presence on the Olympic stage.
Her Response to the Scandal
Before the official ruling, Bekh-Romanchuk expressed her frustration with how her case was handled.
She said she refused to sign documents that would amount to admitting guilt, emphasizing that her integrity and dignity meant more to her than anything else.
She described the process as emotionally draining, saying she needed to pause and focus on her family and personal health.
Her words made clear that she believes the investigation was incomplete and unfair.
She also promised to grant a detailed interview soon, where she intends to share her full side of the story.
What Comes Next?
Now, all eyes are on her next move.
Will her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport give her another chance at competing, or is this truly the end of her athletic career?
While her sporting future looks uncertain, her determination to defend her name — and her growing influence beyond athletics — shows that her story is far from over.
