Olympic athlete who made an X-rated gesture after winning a medal lands a new job after being banned from the sport
Olympic medalist Alysha Newman has shared that she plans to apply for a new job after being banned from pole vaulting. The 31-year-old Canadian athlete won a bronze medal at Paris 2024 and set a new national record by clearing 4.85 meters in the final.
However, she was suspended in February by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to three missed anti-doping tests. On April 29, she received a 20-month ban, starting from December 3, 2025.
The AIU explained that her missed tests happened because she didn’t file her whereabouts correctly in February and August 2025, and she also missed one test in August. Alysha didn’t deny the mistakes, but said they happened during a busy and stressful time in her life. She mentioned missing a test because she lost her car keys and another because she had told investigators she was filming a TV game show.
The AIU found no signs that she was trying to avoid testing. They also noted Alysha had already decided to stop competing in athletics.
At the Paris Olympics, Alysha became famous for her fun twerking celebration after clearing her personal best height. Before the Olympics, she started an OnlyFans account where she shared training tips, nutrition advice, and more. Her account still has over 200,000 likes as of May 2026.
Since leaving athletics, Alysha has worked as a model and appeared on several magazine covers. She recently announced that Victoria’s Secret invited her to an in-person casting for their fashion show, which was held last October. She excitedly wrote on Instagram, “See you soon Victoria’s Secret! What a life.”
She also shared a clip of her audition on TikTok and told a fan she plans to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after her ban ends. Thanks to the backdated suspension, she can come back in August 2027—less than a year before the 2028 Games begin.