Rashid Ramzi is a Moroccan-born middle-distance runner who represented Bahrain in international athletics after obtaining Bahraini citizenship in 2002.
He gained prominence in the mid-2000s by winning gold medals in both the 800m and 1500m events at the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first man to achieve this feat at the same championship since 1980.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ramzi initially secured Bahrain’s first-ever Olympic gold metal by winning the 1500m race.
However, his victory was short-lived as he tested positive for CERA, a banned blood-boosting substance. As a result, his medal was stripped, and he faced a two-year suspension from the sport.
Ramzi’s career is both celebrated and controversial, marked by extraordinary achievements and a doping scandal that overshadowed his legacy.
