Francisca Laia

Francisca Laia
Personal information
NicknameKika
NationalityPortuguese
Born (1994-05-31) 31 May 1994
Abrantes, Médio Tejo, Portugal
EducationMedicine at University of Coimbra
OccupationsCanoeist, medical doctor
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
Sport
CountryPortugal
SportSprint kayak
ClubCD "Os Patos" (2021–present)
Medal record
Women's sprint kayak
Representing  Portugal
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2021 CopenhagenK-2 Mix 200 m
Disqualified2024 SamarkandK-2 200 m
Disqualified2024 SamarkandK-4 Mix 500 m
European Games
Bronze medal – third place2023 Kraków-MałopolskaK-1 200 m
European Championships
Silver medal – second place2017 PlovdivK-2 200 m

Francisca Laia (born 31 May 1994) is a Portuguese sprint canoeist. She competed in the women's K-1 200 metres event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[1] She is currently serving a four-year ban for doping, effective until 29 May 2029.[2]

Career

On 19 June 2025, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced that Laia accepted a four-year ban after an out-of‑competition test, conducted during the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships on 25 August 2024, detected a DHCMT metabolite (dehydrochlormethyltestosterone).[2] The ITA, acting on behalf of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), provisionally suspended Laia on 26 September 2024, and following her acceptance of the charges—under Articles 2.1 (presence) and 2.2 (use or attempted use) of the ICF’s anti‑doping rules—imposed an ineligibility period running from 30 May 2025 to 29 May 2029, with all competitive results from 25 August 2024 onwards disqualified, including the silver medal in the K-2 200 m event alongside Teresa Portela and the bronze medal in the mixed K-4 500 m, both won at the World Championships in Samarkand. The sanction was issued via an agreement on consequences and is subject to appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[3]

Major results

Olympic Games

Year K-1 200
20168 FB

World championships

Year K-2 200 K-2 500 K-4 500 XK-2 200 XK-4 500
2013 7 SF N/a N/a
2015 8 FB N/a N/a
2017 5 FB 1 FB N/a N/a
2018 8 H N/a N/a
2019 9 SF N/a N/a
2021 9 6 FB 2nd place, silver medalist(s) N/a
2023 2 FB 9 N/a N/a
2024 2nd place, silver medalist(s) N/a N/a N/a 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)

References

  1. ↑ "Francisca Laia". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 "International Testing Agency-The ITA reports that canoeist Francisca Dias Laia has been sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility". International Testing Agency. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  3. ↑ Abola.pt (19 June 2025). "Canoísta olímpica Francisca Laia suspensa por quatro anos por doping | Abola.pt". Abola.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 June 2025.
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