Oleksiak withdraws from swimming worlds citing whereabouts case with World Aquatics

By Canadian Press on July 4, 2025.

Canada’s Penny Oleksiak has withdrawn from the world aquatics championships due to being in a whereabouts case with World Aquatics, she announced on social media Friday.

The 25-year-old Toronto native said “it does not involve any banned substance” and “I am and always have been a clean athlete and will be making no further comment at this time.”

The world championships are set to begin July 11 and end Aug. 3 in Singapore.

Oleksiak received support of her decision from Swimming Canada CEO Suzanne Paulins, who said the organization believes Oleksiak “is a clean athlete who made an administrative mistake,” in a statement on social media.

Paulins did, however, say it was “disappointing news.”

Paulins said athletes are responsible for completing whereabouts and submitting filings on time to comply with anti-doping rules to avoid sanctions.

Oleksiak is a seven-time Olympic medallist and nine-time world championship medallist.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.

The Canadian Press