Alpine cliff diver Anna Bader has been suspended for 24 months following a positive test for the prohibited substance Ostarine, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) confirmed. The sanction, which took effect retroactively from the date of sample collection, means the 42-year-old German athlete is eligible to return to competition on June 13, 2026.
The adverse analytical finding was recorded during an out-of-competition test on June 13, 2024. Bader was provisionally suspended starting September 27, 2024, though the matter remained confidential until NADA’s public announcement in April 2026. Ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator known to promote lean muscle mass, is prohibited at all times under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List and is sometimes used medically to treat conditions such as osteoporosis or muscle wasting.
NADA, in coordination with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Bader herself, entered into a settlement agreement resolving the case. According to the agency’s statement, “The parties are in agreement that We find no indications that the violation of anti-doping regulations was committed intentionally.” This acknowledgment of lack of intent factored into the resolution but did not alter the standard sanction for the presence of a prohibited substance.
Bader, who won a bronze medal in the 10-meter platform synchro event at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, has not competed internationally since her provisional suspension. Her absence leaves a vacancy in Germany’s cliff diving contingent ahead of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest and the 2025 European Games in Katowice.
The cliff diving discipline, governed by World Aquatics (formerly FINA), features athletes diving from platforms ranging from 18 to 27 meters above water, judged on takeoff, flight, and entry. Even as not currently part of the Olympic program, the sport maintains a professional circuit culminating in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which Bader has previously competed in.
With her suspension set to conclude in mid-June 2026, Bader would have approximately two months to prepare for the World Aquatics Championships scheduled for July in Shanghai, should she choose to pursue a return and receive the necessary exemptions from governing bodies.
As of now, Bader has not made a public statement regarding her future plans. Athletes returning from anti-doping violations often undergo additional testing and monitoring protocols before being cleared for elite competition.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining clean sport, particularly in disciplines where athletes may seek performance advantages through substances that are difficult to detect and carry significant health risks when misused.
For updates on Bader’s status and other developments in aquatic sports, follow the official channels of World Aquatics and NADA.
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