From Inside the Games
Ethiopia and Morocco are the latest countries facing the threat of sanctions from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) over fears they have major problems with doping.
The IAAF’s ruling Council were warned here today during a presentation by its anti-doping manager Thomas Capdevielle there were concerns about the level of doping in the two African countries.
Ethiopia and Morocco are ranked among the top countries in the world when it comes to distance running but there are suspicions that some of their success is due to using banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Stephanie Hightower, the former President of USA Track & Field, who has been appointed by IAAF President Sebastian Coe to work closely with Capdevielle to try to help athletics solve its current crisis, recommended to the Council that “they deal with the situation immediately”.
The IAAF has already suspended Russia following the publication of the World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Commission report which claimed there was evidence of state-supported doping, putting in jeopardy their participation at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Coe has also threatened Kenya that they could be banned unless they demonstrate they are tackling the problem of doping in the country seriously.
The situation in both countries is expected to be discussed further at the second day of the IAAF Council meeting tomorrow.
insidethegames reported last week that last year’s Tokyo Marathon winner Endeshaw Negesse had tested positive for meldonium, the same recently banned substance which it emerged that Sweden’s Ethiopian-born former world 1500 metres champion Abeba Aregawi had also failed for.
