One of the top running backs in U Sports football has received a four-year sanction by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) after testing positive for a banned substance.
Édouard Wanadi of the Western Mustangs tested positive for GW501516, a prohibited metabolic modulator, after providing the CCES with a urine sample on Oct. 11, 2022. He waived his right to a hearing after being notified of the test results, which the organization considered an admission of the violation.
The suspension was imposed on Nov. 10, 2022 and runs through Nov. 9, 2026. The six-foot-two, 220-pound ball-carrier did not participate in Western’s two playoff games this past season, both of which took place after the sanction was enforced.
The native of Saint-Jerome, Que. recorded 100 carries for 855 yards and eight touchdowns over nine games in 2022 along with three catches for 53 yards and one touchdown. His best performance on the year came when he ran 13 times for 213 yards and four touchdowns against the University of Toronto.
Wanadi was the fifth-leading rusher in U Sports this past season and was named a second-team OUA all-star. His teammate, Keon Edwards, led all of U Sports in rushing with 130 carries for 1,032 yards and nine touchdowns. Wanadi was set to enter his third year of U Sports eligibility for the 2023-24 season.
