LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Olympic silver medalist hurdler Cyréna Samba-Mayela has been provisionally suspended during an investigation into missed doping control tests, track and field investigators said Friday.
The 25-year-old French runner took silver in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics behind champion Masai Russell of the United States. It was France's only track and field medal at the Summer Games.
The Athletics Integrity Unit said it served a notice of allegation on Samba-Mayela for suspected “whereabouts” failures. No details were given about her missed appointments, or the timetable for a disciplinary case.
Athletes must file updated details in the global anti-doping database of where they can be found for a one-hour period each day to meet sample collection officials making unannounced visits.
Three missed tests in a 12-month period leads to a provisional suspension and prosecution. A ban could rule Samba-Mayela out of the Los Angeles Olympics in July 2028.
She was the European champion in 2024 and world indoors gold medalist in the 60-meter hurdles in 2022.
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FILE - Cyrena Samba-Mayela, of France, celebrates her second place finish in the women's 100-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys began their preparations in Rio de Janeiro on Friday for their game against the Baltimore Ravens with an eye on the task at hand and not the sights for which the city is known.
Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys' second-year coach who's preparing for his first international game, said players were well aware their visit to Brazil would feel like a business trip. They will play 5,200 miles away from home.
“It’s a little bit different from other road games,” Schottenheimer said. “We were very up front with the guys early on. You’re not going to have the free time to do what you’d normally do.”
“We’re here to get better, grow, learn and we’ll keep putting the final touches on what’s been a short week,” he added.
The Cowboys practiced at the training grounds used by soccer club Flamengo in a remote part of Rio about 26 miles west of the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain. They'll get their first look at the city's historic Maracana Stadium during a walkthrough on Saturday.
The Ravens practiced at the training ground of another soccer club, Botafogo. Coach Jesse Minter has worked in Brazil before; he was the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator last season, when they opened against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo.
Minter won't have much free time either, but he is already keen on seeing some of the fans from 2025.
“They might not be necessarily cheering for one team or the other. They kind of get excited when both teams make plays. Both offenses and defense have to deal with the crowd,” he said.
The teams arrived in Rio on Friday morning following roughly 10-hour flights. Their game Sunday will be one of a record nine international contests on the NFL schedule this season.
“We have a lot of time between now and (kickoff),” Schottenheimer said.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, who will be playing in his first international game, also said the Cowboys are in a “strictly business trip” mode, though he noted he has enjoyed hanging out by the pool with his teammates and had tasted some of the local steaks at lunch.
“It is a place I want to return to as a tourist,” Prescott said, adding that he hopes to see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue from the bus when he heads to the game. “What we are looking for is a win.”
Prescott said he and his teammates expect to be fully rested by Saturday morning after their long trip.
“This is a first for the majority of the team,” Prescott said. “It is great to have an extra day to massage the game plan.”
“We’re excited about our game plan, we’ve got answers for whatever they’re going to do,” he added. “That just kind of goes into the rules of who we are, not trying to get outside of our box to combat anything they’re doing or counter them too much. We want to be the aggressors. We want to make them play on their heels and bring our best game to them.”
Prescott said even with the business trip mentality, his passion for football is the same.
“To be here in Brazil where there’s big fan group, big fan base and support, hopefully allow a lot of people to see me play and this team play for the first time in person,” he said. “It is something that I think about each and every game. ‘Who’s watching for the first time?’ Or ‘Who’s trying to pick up this game, and how can I inspire them?’ Just allows me to not take any play for granted, to be right where my feet are.”
The NFL has been playing in Brazil since 2024, but the two previous games were at the 48,000-seat NeoQuimica Arena in Sao Paulo, a larger market where both games were sellouts. Some tickets remain for Sunday's game.
Teams involved in those other games — the Packers, Eagles, Chargers and Chiefs — had more activities in Brazil.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks after a practice for an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Baltimore Ravens players work out during a practice for an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer speaks during a practice for an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Lucas Figueiredo)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott speaks during a practice for an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Lucas Figueiredo)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) works out during a practice for an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Lucas Figueiredo)
