Montenegro’s water polo athletes are set to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris; however, Aleksa Ukropina will miss out due to a failed doping test!

The left-handed player underwent testing on January 21, just prior to his departure for Trebinje to kick off preparations for the World Cup in Doha, where he “failed” the test due to an inhalant.

He did not notify anyone from the Water Polo and Swimming Association of Montenegro (VPSCG) regarding the test nor sought a doctor’s opinion on whether the substance was listed as positive or “exempt” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

According to information obtained by “Vijesti,” Ukropina did not request a B sample, instead admitting his guilt. He is required to submit a statement to WADA about the use of prohibited substances by the end of the month.

The VPSCG was informed of Ukropina’s positive test following the quarter-finals against Spain in Doha, which resulted in him watching the subsequent matches against Greece and Hungary from the stands.

The minimum penalty is a six-month suspension, effectively ruling him out of the Olympics. He is not the first left-handed water polo player from Montenegro to face such a situation; Đuro Radović was sidelined from October 2021 to February 2023 for failing to properly complete doping documentation on multiple occasions.

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