Background
Ramzi was born in Asfi, Morocco.
athletics competitor middle-distance runner
Ramzi was born in Asfi, Morocco.
Ramzi was investigated by the IAAF after the 2008 Summer Games and was stripped of his gold medal for doping. After transferring to Bahrain, he ascended to the top of the Asian scene, winning gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships and the 2002 Asian Games. He set an Asian indoor record over 800 metres to take the silver at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships—his first global medal—and took part in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He failed to retain his titles at the 2007 World Championships, but still took the silver medal over 1500 m.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics he was the recipient of the first ever medal for Bahrain at the Olympics – winning the 1500 m gold medal. However, his result did not stand and he was excluded from the sport for two years after his test came back positive for the banned blood-boosting substance CERA. Early competition and transfer
Ramzi was raised in Safi, and competed internationally for Morocco, winning the 1500 metres silver medal at the 1999 African Junior Athletics Championships and then winning at the national championships in 2001. until he joined the Bahraini armed forces and gained citizenship in 2002.
He scored three 1500 m gold medals at regional championships in 2003, winning at the Pan Arab Athletics Championships, the Gulf Cooperation Council Championships, and beating all opposition at the 2003 Asian Athletics Championships. Later that year, he represented his adopted country at the Olympic Games for the first time and he reached the semi-finals of the 1500 m at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He followed this with a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games and improved to the silver medal in the 1500 m at the 2007 World Championships.
Olympic scandal
In April 2009, the Bahrain Olympic Committee reported Ramzi tested positive for doping at the Beijing Games. Ramzi tested positive for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting drug EPO. Ramzi’s backup “B” sample was tested on June 18, 2009 and in July 2009 it was announced Ramzi"s "B" sample has tested positive as well. In November 2009, Ramzi was stripped of his gold medal.
He still spends much of his time in Morocco to train at high altitude (the highest point in Bahrain is only 440 ft above sea level).