Canadian Powerlifter Banned Four Years
Kelly Branton, a multiple record holder from Windsor, received a four-year ban after testing positive for five banned substances. The suspension sends a strong message about anti-doping enforcement at the national level in Canadian powerlifting. Meanwhile, Kyle Landi became Canada's first competitive bodybuilder with Down syndrome, inspiring others and challenging stereotypes in strength sports.
- Kelly Branton’s suspension was issued by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) after an out-of-competition urine sample collected on April 23, 2019, tested positive for five prohibited substances. These included two types of SARMs (LGD-4033 and S-22), methandienone, stanozolol, and ibutamoren. - The four-year ban was deemed accepted after Branton, a multi-record holder in Canadian powerlifting, did not contest the proposed sanction within the specified timeframes. His period of ineligibility is set to conclude on May 23, 2023. - The Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) has adopted the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), which requires all its members to agree to periodic drug testing, both in and out of competition. The CADP is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. - Before his positive test, Branton was a perennial medal hopeful for Canada and was scheduled to compete at the 2019 Classic World Championships, which he had to withdraw from. - Kyle Landi, 26, has over a million followers across Instagram and TikTok and has trained with notable figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Besides being a competitive bodybuilder, he is also a certified personal trainer. - Landi, who also has a congenital heart defect and underwent open-heart surgery at age nine, is training for upcoming competitions including the Pittsburgh Pro and the Muscle Beach Bodybuilding Contest. - He made his competitive debut at the 2024 Muscle Beach Championship. A documentary about his life and bodybuilding journey is also in production.
