Faisel Masrahi (Arabic: فيصل مسريحي; born 30 March 1996) is a Saudi Arabian middle‑distance runner who specialises in the 800 metres. He has represented Saudi Arabia at major international competitions, including the Asian Athletics Championships, the World Championships in Athletics, and the Olympic Games. His career has been affected by a doping violation that resulted in a provisional suspension and a subsequent ban.
Early life and background
Faisel Masrahi was born in Saudi Arabia on 30 March 1996. Details of his early life, education, and the beginnings of his athletic training are not widely documented in publicly available sources.
Athletic career
2015 Asian Athletics Championships – Masrihi won the gold medal in the men’s 800 m with a time of 1:45.94, establishing himself as a leading middle‑distance runner in the region.
2015 World Championships in Athletics – He competed in the 800 m in Beijing, advancing to the semi‑final round.
2016 Summer Olympics – Masrihi represented Saudi Arabia in the men’s 800 m in Rio de Janeiro. He finished fifth in his heat and did not advance to the final.
Diamond League and other international meets – He participated in various IAAF Diamond League events, posting competitive times and improving his personal bests.
Personal bests (recorded by World Athletics)
| Distance | Time | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 m | 1:44.66 | 30 May 2018 | Chorzów, Poland |
| 1500 m | 3:35.05 | 7 July 2019 | Monaco, Monaco |
These performances placed Masrihi among the fastest Asian athletes in the 800 m.
Doping violation
In August 2019, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced that Masrihi had been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. Following a formal adjudication process, the Saudi Arabian Anti‑Doping Committee imposed a four‑year ban on Masrihi, effective from the date of the anti‑doping rule violation. The sanction also led to the disqualification of his results obtained after the date of the sample collection.
Honors and recognitions
- Asian Championships gold medal (800 m, 2015)
- Multiple national titles in Saudi Arabian athletics championships
Legacy
Masrihi’s early achievements contributed to the visibility of Saudi Arabia in middle‑distance track events on the Asian and global stages. His subsequent doping sanction has been cited in discussions on anti‑doping enforcement within the region.
References
- World Athletics athlete profile: “Faisal Masrahi.”
- Asian Athletics Association competition results, 2015.
- International Olympic Committee, Rio 2016 athletics results.
- Athletics Integrity Unit, “AIU announces provisional suspension of Saudi athlete Faisal Masrahi,” 2019.
- Saudi Arabian Anti‑Doping Committee, sanction documentation, 2020.
All information presented reflects data available from verifiable sporting and anti‑doping authorities as of the knowledge cutoff date.
