At the women's 200m final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on Friday, July 31, 2026, Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands won gold in 22.07 seconds. Despite her victory, the usual post-race hugs and embraces between competitors were notably absent.
Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis, who finished sixth in the final after winning bronze in the 100m earlier, said she was not surprised by the cold reception. "Let's just say I'm not surprised no-one shook her hand and I'm not supposed to say any more than that," Lewis told ABC News. She also revealed she was instructed not to discuss Hodge further, stating, "I've been told not to say anything. I would love to say some words, but I'm not allowed to."
The backdrop to the frosty atmosphere is a doping controversy involving Hodge. She tested positive for the banned metabolic modulator GW1516—also known as Cardarine or Endurobol—following a sample taken at the under-20 world championships in Lima on August 30, 2024, where she won the 200m ahead of Lewis.
Sport Integrity Australia explained that GW1516 increases fat metabolism and improves exercise adaptation. Hodge's explanation and "substantial assistance" in the investigation led to a reduction of what would have been a two-year ban by seven months. This allowed her to resume competing in January 2026 and participate in the Glasgow Games.
Both Hodge and Lewis received automatic places in the semifinals, with Lewis winning her race in 22.64 seconds and Hodge setting a Commonwealth Games record of 22.01 seconds in hers, setting up their first rematch since the 2024 race in Peru.
Hodge has stated, "I've put all that behind me. I just wanted to move forward and work extra hard to show I didn't need it. I never will need it."
Loading comments.