AIMS Integrity Director says another two football players, rower test positive  

AIMS conducted its first doping controls of the season during a Malta Premier League match last weekend

Maltese sport was hit with more doping cases on Monday after two Premier League players and a rower tested positive for banned substances, Dr Sandro

Camilleri, Director of Integrity at AIMS, confirmed to the Times of Malta.

Tarxien Rainbows defender Rafael Rodrigues Azevedo Tavares and Marsaxlokk’s second-in-line goalkeeper Pablo Guillermo Sanchez Nino were both temporarily suspended after they resulted positive for tests at the end of the Jubilee Cup quarter-final between the sides. This match was played on November 30. The match ended in a goalless draw, with the Rainbows reaching the semi-finals after winning a penalty shoot-out.

“I can confirm that both players have tested positive following tests carried out by AIMS/NADO Malta officials,” AIMS Integrity Director Dr Camilleri said in a statement.

“Both players have been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from all sporting-related activities locally and worldwide, pending the outcome of further investigations. The Malta Football Association, Malta Premier, FIFA, and UEFA have all been duly notified.”

In a separate case, Senglea Regatta rower Cayvon Gatt also tested positive following a doping control carried out during the Victory Day Regatta held in September earlier this year.

Dr Camilleri confirmed that investigations in this case are likewise ongoing.

Meanwhile, Dr Camilleri revealed that AIMS has continued to intensify its anti-doping operations across Maltese sport. Over the past weekend, AIMS conducted its first doping controls of the season during a Malta Premier League match.

“For the first time this season, two doping tests were carried out following the Premier League fixture between Valletta and Marsaxlokk, which was played at the National Stadium on Saturday,” Dr Camilleri said.

“These controls form part of AIMS’ ongoing efforts to strengthen anti-doping enforcement across all sporting disciplines and to ensure a clean and fair sporting environment in which athletes can compete to the best of their ability.”

In total, over the past three weeks, a total of six athletes, three footballers and three rowers, tested positive in doping tests conducted by AiMS/NADO Malta.

The year that is coming to a close saw a relative increase in tests, as in 2025, today, a total number of 349 tests were undertaken when compared to the 274 that were done in 2024.

In 2024, a total of five positive cases were registered, while in the current year, a total of 10 positive cases have been found, of which 6 of these are still at the hearing stage.