U.S. Olympic Gymnast Yul Moldauer Suspended By USADA Until 2026

2020 Tokyo Olympian and 2024 Paris Olympic Alternate Yul Moldauer made a shocking announcement Thursday afternoon, sharing that he has been suspended for 16 months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

A key contributor to the U.S. men’s team’s historic successes in recent years, Moldauer will be barred from competition until January 2026, missing a chance at the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In an Instagram post Thursday afternoon, Moldauer shared the news in a public statement, hoping to preempt public release:

“I want to personally share some important news with you before it becomes public. I have received a 16-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) due to a whereabouts violation. I want to be absolutely clear: I have never tested positive for any banned substances in my career. For over a decade, I have proudly upheld the values of clean sport and fair competition.”

According to the USADA, whereabouts violations come in one of two forms: filing failures and missed tests. The Olympian reports that his suspension stems from “missing three required whereabouts updates within a 12 month period.”

USADA shares that athletes in their Registered Testing Pool (RTP) – specifically elite athletes like Moldauer, will be notified of their enrollment in the system. “Athletes will be notified if they are included in the USADA RTP or the CAP and are required to submit Whereabouts information” (USADA).

According to USADA’s website, RPT “athletes must complete their whereabouts filing online and submit it by the 15th of the month ahead of each quarter.”

On the specified quarterly dates, the athletes must submit two pieces of information to USADA to meet the requirements. First, the quarterly whereabouts filing, which includes: “daily overnight location, training locations and times, competitions, other regularly scheduled activities, such as school and/or work locations, AND a daily 60-minute window.”

The second filing is denoted as “whereabouts updates,” including any schedule changes and location changes, “such as traveling for a competition” (USADA). In his public statement, Moldauer shares that two of the three violations occurred due to his gymnastics competitions, adding that, at said competitions, there were “drug testing stations, which [he] passed.”

The third missed update occurred after he put forward a disappointing finish at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Moldauer claims. After multiple uncharacteristic mistakes, the 2020 Olympian fell to 9th and missed a spot on the five-person main team. Moldauer suggests that the USADA violation stemmed from his disappointment. “I was processing the disappointment of missing out on my second Olympic Games.”

Moldauer has been a staple in U.S. Men’s Gymnastics for the past three Olympic cycles. In The 28-year-old was crowned the best in the nation in 2017, winning the U.S. National All-Around title. Internationally, he has been one of the United States’ most successful gymnasts as of late, collecting two World bronze medals and eight Pan American Championships. As a college athlete, Moldauer starred for the Oklahoma Sooners, leading the NCAA powerhouse to three-straight national titles.

To gymnastics fans and competitors, Yul is renowned for his camaraderie and leadership, both on the collegiate and elite stages. And while the story will continue to develop, Yul remains committed to train for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“This setback does not define me,” the Olympian said. “My focus remains on rebuilding trust, stayed dedicated to the sport I love, and working tirelessly to represent Team USA at the LA 2028 Olympics.”