Roilya Ranaivosoa

Marie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa (born 14 November 1990), commonly known as Roilya Ranaivosoa, is a Mauritian weightlifter of Malagasy descent, competing in the 48 kg category and representing Mauritius at international competitions.

FullnameMarie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa

Born (1990-11-14) 14 November 1990 (age 35)

Curepipe, Mauritius

Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)

Weight47.96 kg (106 lb)^[1]

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Roilya Ranaivosoa

Personal information
Full name	Marie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa
Born	(1990-11-14) 14 November 1990 (age 35) Curepipe, Mauritius
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight	47.96 kg (106 lb)[1]
Sport
Country	Mauritius
Sport	Weightlifting
Team	National team
Medal record Women's weightlifting Representing  Mauritius Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham 49 kg 2018 Gold Coast 48 kg African Games 2015 Brazzaville 53 kg 2019 Rabat 49 kg Commonwealth Championships 2016 Penang 53 kg African Championships 2016 Yaoundé 48 kg 2017 Vacoas 48 kg 2018 Mahébourg 53 kg 2019 Cairo 49 kg 2013 Casablanca 69 kg
Updated on 30 January 2022

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She competed at several editions of the World Weightlifting Championships. She participated at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 58 kg event.

She represented Mauritius at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She finished in 11th place in the women's 49 kg event.

She won the silver medal in the women's 49 kg event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. In December 2022, she was elected as member of the IWF Athletes' Commission.

However, her career has been marred by a breach of anti-doping regulations, resulting in her resignation from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Athletes' Commission and subsequent sanctions.

Ranaivosoa's involvement in a doping scandal came to light when the International Testing Agency (ITA), responsible for conducting anti-doping procedures for the IWF, charged her with sample swapping and tampering. The alleged offence occurred in 2016, approximately four months before she participated in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she finished ninth in the 48-kilogram category. The alleged sample swapping occurred during an out-of-competition control in Romania, where she was undergoing a training camp under the controversial Romanian Coach Urdas Constantin.

Following the charges, Ranaivosoa resigned from the IWF Athletes' Commission.

In December 2024, the ITA ruled and confirmed Ranaivosoa’s three-year suspension after she admitted to her wrongdoing in the doping scandal. As part of the sanctions, all her titles and achievements from 24 March 2016 to 23 March 2019 were annulled. This includes the potential revocation of her prestigious Best Sportswoman of the Year awards for 2018 and 2019, pending further review.

The admission of guilt marked a dramatic fall from grace for the athlete, whose career had once been a source of national pride. The ruling has left a significant turn in Mauritian sports, as one of its most prominent figures now faces the consequences of actions that compromised the integrity of the sport.