© Copyright – 2021 – Athletics Illustrated
British 5000m runner, Andy Butchart, received a suspension for faking a COVID-19 test to return to GB.
During a podcast, which has since been deleted, Butchart said there was a delay in getting his PCR test result before his flight home from the United States. So, he changed the date on an old test upon his return.
“Everybody has faked PCR tests… to try to go somewhere, because it’s just so hard,” Scot Butchart was quoted as saying in the podcast. The 29-year-old later told the newspaper that he had “perhaps glorified the situation for the podcast”.
He has apologised for his remarks.
UK Athletics said an independent disciplinary committee had issued Butchart with a 12-month ban from athletics, suspended for a period of two years, and fined him 5,000 pounds ($6,886 USD). It said he can compete in the Tokyo Games.
The 29-year-old Scotsman competed in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He owns the Scottish 3000m record with his best of 7:35.18 run this year at Gateshead, as well as the 5000m with his 2019 performance of 13:06.21.
