Spanish runner Mohammed Katir's Olympic dream hits dead-end after two-year ban by AIU

World Athletics

ATHLETICS Spanish runner Mohammed Katir's Olympic dream hits dead-end after two-year ban by AIU

Abigael Wafula 20:03 - 16.02.2024

Spain's Mohammed Katir who bagged silver in the 5000m at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary has now been slapped with a two-year ban for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Spain’s Mohammed Katir has admitted to violating an Anti-Doping Rule and therefore, will be banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for two years, following three Whereabouts Failures in 12 months.

The 25-year-old runner on Tuesday returned a signed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form, conceding a violation of Rule 2.4 (Whereabouts Failures by an Athlete in a Registered Testing Pool) of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR).

He admitted to three Whereabouts Failures in 12 months, beginning on February 28, 2023, which included a filing failure on February 28, missing a test/filing failure on April 3, and a missed test/filing failure on October 10 last year.

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His two-year period of ineligibility will start from the date of his Provisional Suspension and will therefore run from February 7, 2024, until February 7, 2026. All of Katir’s results and related awards since October 10, 2023, have been disqualified.

Meanwhile, AIU Head Brett Clothier reiterated the importance of Whereabouts in no-notice, Out-of-Competition (OOC) testing for elite athletes in the AIU ‘s Registered Testing Pool (RTP), especially in an Olympic year when the highest rewards are on the line.

“This is a crucial requirement to which all RTP athletes must adhere. Without accurate Whereabouts information, anti-doping organisations cannot properly execute no-notice, Out-of-Competition testing that is the key to catching anyone who is doping and trying to gain an unfair advantage.

“In the lead-up to Paris 2024, to ensure a level playing field, the AIU will execute a comprehensive and intelligence-led Out-of-Competition testing programme on elite athletes worldwide. Whereabouts compliance will be an essential element of this.

“Elite athletes on the AIU’s RTP are well aware of the importance of Whereabouts requirements and receive ample education about it. There is no excuse for committing three Whereabouts Failures in a 12-month period,” Clothier said.

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