Sprint canoeist Dorota Borowska was withdrawn from Poland's squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games due to an alleged violation of anti-doping rules, the Polish Canoe Federation confirmed on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old won gold in the women's C1 competition at the 2024 ECA Canoe Sprint European Championships in Szeged, Hungary in June. Borowska was seen as one of Poland's medal hopes at the Olympic Games.

"We support purity in sport and strongly condemn the use of prohibited doping substances. We also declare full cooperation with the relevant anti-doping authorities. However, we don't prejudge the athlete's guilt and we believe that everyone has the right to a fair trial," the Polish Canoe Federation (PCF) said in a statement.

A prohibited substance was detected in a sample taken from Borowska in June. The athlete can appeal against the decision of the International Canoe Federation, which suspended her qualification for Paris 2024.

"According to the information, which we received from the athlete's coaching staff, she intends to exercise this right," the PCF noted.

Borowska admitted that she is devastated as winning the Olympic gold was her dream. "I have never knowingly taken any illegal substance. I don't believe what happened. It feels like a nightmare. I will do anything to prove my innocence," the athlete told Polish media on Wednesday.

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