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Anjelina Nadai Lohalith and Dominic Lokolong Atiol were born in South Sudan. Both competed internationally for the World Athletics charity program Athlete Refugee Team, but that support was not enough. The athletes allegedly cheated by doping. Trimetazidine was their performance-enhancing drug (PED) of choice.

Anjelina Nadai Lohalith

Dominic Lokolong Atiol left South Sudan at age eight. She arrived in northern Kenya in 2002, settling in the Kakuma refugee camp. The camp is one of the largest in the world with nearly 200,000 residents. While in school she took up running.

In South Sudan, she slept in the bush with her family to avoid being found out during the raids. Lohalith doesn’t know when her birthday is or how old she is. Her birthday — as is common with refugees — is listed as January 1. World Athletics believes she was born in 1995, other sources say 1993.

Her personal best in the 5000 metre event is 15:33.85 from July 2023. She has competed in six World Championships and twice in the Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo.

As per the Athletics Integrity Unit, Lohalith has been provisionally suspended, which means she may appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, an appeal may not go well as she is not the only South Sudanese refugee to choose trimetazidine to cheat with.

Dominic Lokolong Atiol

Dominic Lokolong Atiol also used trimetazidine to enhance his performances. However, it may not have done much for him as the 23-year-old has only run as fast as 3:50.69 in the 1500m and 1:57.9h (hand-timed) in the 800m.

Apparently, Atiol also lived in the Kakuma Refugee camp. He was also provisionally suspended. Both athletes have enjoyed support from the Tegla Laroupe Foundation camp — she hates doping and has chastised her fellow Kenyans for cheating.

A third Olympic refugee team member received a suspension. Last August Fouad Idbafdil of Morocco received a three-year sentence for testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO), the red blood cell booster. He admitted to taking the PED, therefore his suspension was shortened from four to three years.

Trimetazidine (TMZ) is used to treat heart-related conditions like angina. It helps metabolize fatty acids, which helps your body use oxygen. The drug allows for more blood flow to your heart. It can also improve overall performance in someone with a heart-related disease.

Kakuma Refugee Camp

The Kakuma Refugee Camp is located in Northern Kenya. The camp was established in 1992 following the arrival of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” Also in 1992, large groups of Ethiopian refugees fled their country following the fall of the Ethiopian government and the Tigray War.

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