Neisi Dajomes secured the gold medal in the women’s 86-kilogram category at the South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina, according to international sports reporting. The Ecuadorian weightlifter and Olympic champion registered 110 kilograms in the snatch and 143 kilograms in the clean and jerk, finishing with an Olympic total of 253 kilograms to claim first place.
The performance marks Dajomes’s second international appearance since completing a 14-month suspension. Her return to international competition follows a doping control conducted in April 2025 where clomifeno was detected. Dajomes explained that the substance was linked to a medical treatment and acknowledged that she had not processed a therapeutic use exemption in time, leading the International Testing Agency to reduce an initial 24-month sanction to 14 months.
Path Back to the International Podium in Santa Fe
The competition in Santa Fe, Argentina, on September 17, 2026, represents Dajomes’s first international competition outside Ecuador since her suspension ended. Prior to her trip to Santa Fe, she returned to competition at the South American Weightlifting Championship held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on August 29, 2026. In that domestic return, she won three gold medals in the 86 kg division with a snatch of 115 kg, a clean and jerk of 150 kg, and a total of 255 kg.
Less than three weeks after her appearance in Guayaquil, Dajomes traveled to Argentina for the South American Games. Her marks of 110 kg in the snatch and 143 kg in the clean and jerk secured the gold medal in the 86 kg weight class, establishing steady continuity in her competitive schedule following her lengthy absence from official tournaments.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 World Championships
With her victory in Santa Fe, Dajomes continues her preparation toward the next Olympic cycle, maintaining a sporting focus on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Her competitive record includes a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The next major international competition for the Ecuadorian weightlifter will be the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships, scheduled for late October and early November in Ningbo, China. Her performance in Argentina places her back at the forefront of Ecuadorian weightlifting as she prepares for the world championships.
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