Ali Saïdi-Sief

Ali Saïdi-Sief (born March 15, 1978, in Algiers, Algeria) is a retired Algerian athlete who specialized in middle-distance and long-distance events. He is best known for winning the silver medal in the 5000 meters at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, although his achievement was later overshadowed by a doping scandal.

Career

Ali Saïdi-Sief emerged on the international athletics scene in the late 1990s. He first gained significant attention at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, where he competed in the 5000 meters. His breakthrough, however, came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he claimed the silver medal in the 5000 meters, finishing behind Million Wolde from Ethiopia.

However, Saïdi-Sief's career was marred by controversy in 2001 when he tested positive for a banned steroid after finishing second in the 5000 meters at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. As a result, he was stripped of his silver medal and received a two-year ban from competition.

Following his ban, Saïdi-Sief made a return to competition but failed to reach his previous levels of performance. He retired from competitive athletics a few years later.

Doping Controversy

In 2001, shortly after the World Championships in Edmonton, it was announced that Saïdi-Sief had tested positive for nandrolone, a performance-enhancing drug. His silver medal was revoked, and he was handed a two-year suspension from all competitive events. The scandal significantly impacted his reputation and marked a premature decline in his athletic career.

Legacy

Despite the doping scandal, Saïdi-Sief remains one of Algeria's most successful athletes in the realm of distance running. His case also highlights the ongoing issues of doping within the sport of athletics, prompting discussions and reforms in anti-doping measures in the years that followed.

See also

• List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
• Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres