The 30-year-old was provisionally suspended last July having returned a positive test after the Stockholm Diamond League meet. Braz claimed he had unknowingly consumed ostarine glucuronide which was present in supplements supplied by his sports nutritionist, Dr Gisele Martins Daros.

The ban follows a two-day hearing at the World Athletics Tribunal in London in early May. Braz appeared in-person with his wife, Ana, and Martins Daros appearing as witnesses. The AIU had sought a four-year suspension stating, "He was 'reckless' and acted with 'indirect intent'; he was aware of the risk involved of using supplements sourced from compound pharmacies in Brazil and had 'manifestly disregarded that risk'."

However, the Disciplinary Tribunal ruled that, "While Braz had been 'personally informed' about the high risk of contamination involved in using the supplements and had consequently 'ignored this risk', he was not deemed to have manifestly disregarded the risk because he had relied on his medical team for advice. A majority of the panel determined he was not at 'Significant Fault or Negligence'."

The AIU is considering appealing the ban with head Brett Clothier saying, "Athletes from Brazil, including Mr Braz, have been specifically educated about the dangers surrounding the use of supplements from compound pharmacies in Brazil. This has occurred via AIU online forums and AIU athlete advisory notices. In the light of these very clear warnings, it is disappointing to be dealing with such a case."

Braz's ban expires on 27 November meaning, as things stand, that he will miss the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, hours after the decision was announced, he posted a statement on Instagram which called the outcome "extremely positive" and revealed that he had appealed to CAS last week.

It explains, "Based on the understanding that the 16 months are still disproportionate to the very low level of responsibility attributable to the athlete, Thiago's defence has filed an appeal to CAS in Switzerland, since last week, and is confident in either overturning the sanction or further reducing the period of imposed ineligibility, so that the athlete can freely participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics."

Braz got the better of Renaud Lavillenie in a memorable pole vault competition to win gold on home soil at the Rio Games in a South American record 6.03m. He went on to take bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021 with Mondo Duplantis claiming his first Olympic title.