Olympic pole vaulter Alysha Newman has announced she is auditioning to become a Victoria's Secret model after being suspended from athletics for 20 months due to missed drug tests. The 31-year-old Canadian athlete, who also runs an OnlyFans account, failed to complete three drug tests over a 12-month period, leading to the ban.
Newman revealed on Tuesday that she received an invitation from the lingerie brand to attend an in-person casting call for a chance to walk in the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She shared a clip of her audition on TikTok, tagging the brand with the caption 'See you soon.' The annual show is set to return this autumn, with applications closing on 28 May 2026.
Newman won bronze for Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she attracted criticism after twerking to celebrate her medal. She has also competed in two world championship finals and won gold and bronze at the Commonwealth Games. Outside sport, she has modelled for Agent Provocateur and partnered with brands such as Nike and Rado.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) stated that Newman was unavailable for an unannounced doping test in February last year, and missed two further tests in August. She told the AIU she missed the February test because she could not find her car key, and attributed the third missed test to filming a TV gameshow. Although she provided a sample later that day, officials deemed it a violation of anti-doping rules.
Her suspension will expire in August 2027. The AIU imposed a 20-month ban instead of the standard two years because it said she had decided to end her career. Newman has not confirmed retirement, but mentioned in her Victoria's Secret audition that she recently moved to Los Angeles amid her suspension.
