Rashid RAMZI

Originally competing for his native Morocco, 1500 m runner Rashid Ramzi gained Bahraini nationality in 2002. He was offered a job with the Bahrain army, where he could train, on condition he'd run for the Gulf State. After minor successes (Asian Games champion 2002, Asian champion 2003), his breakthrough came in 2004, finishing runner-up at the Indoor World Championships. He failed to qualify for the Olympic final that year, falling in his semi-final. But he bounced back at the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first athlete, male or female, to win the 800-1,500 double at the Worlds. After injuries, he failed to defend his titles in 2007, finishing second in the 1,500 m. At the Beijing Games, he entered the 1,500 m and 5,000 m, eventually only starting the former. In a close sprint, he defeated Asbel Kiprop to win his adoptive country's first Olympic medal. But in April 2009, after re-tests of urine samples, it was announced that traces of CERA, an EPO-like substance, had been found. Ramzi denied the charges, but his B-sample confirmed the findings, and in November 2009, he was stripped of his Olympic title.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:44.05; 1500 – 3:29.14 (2006); Mile – 3:51.33 (2005).