The family of Brazilian marathoner Daniel Nascimento, who was banned from competition for five years, is seeking the public's assistance in locating him. Nascimento, who competed in the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, was last seen leaving his home in Paraguacu Paulista on June 19.
His mother, Valdirene de Paula Ferreira, posted a plea on Instagram on Monday, June 28, seeking any information about her son's whereabouts. Nascimento, also known by the nickname Armero, was reportedly under her care following a doping violation. He is described as having psychological issues.
Nascimento left home around 7:00 p.m. on June 19 carrying a black backpack. His family officially reported his disappearance to authorities on Monday, the day before what would have been his 28th birthday. Ferreira expressed her deep worry for her son, stating that she has lost significant weight due to anxiety and that Nascimento's siblings are also concerned.
Nascimento, considered the fastest marathoner in South America, received a five-year ban starting in May 2025 after testing positive for three different steroids. This ban made him ineligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. His mother noted that he had been training in secret in sugarcane fields, suggesting he missed the athlete's routine.
His most notable achievement was a third-place finish in the 2022 Seoul Marathon with a time of 2:04:51. In the same year, he led the New York City Marathon for over 20 miles before collapsing from heat exhaustion.
