Moroccan-born, Spanish athlete, Mohamed Katir, announced Wednesday that he has been handed a provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing three tests in twelve months.
“It is important to note that this is not a case of violation of anti-doping rules for the use of prohibited substances or methods, nor is it a case of evasion of out-of-competition doping controls. It is a simple case resulting from the completion of the location data in the ADAMS platform. This may have led to a failure of whereabouts,” Katir wrote.
Two-time World medallist Mo Katir has been suspended for missing three tests in twelve months. Does that mean he is a cheat? Will his ban be upheld? Where do we go from here? Read my piece below: https://t.co/EQjdSLKg7V
— James Rennie (@James_1871) February 7, 2024
Katir was set to compete in the Valencia athletics meet on Wednesday. He was planning to go after the European 5000m indoors record. The 25-year-old announced that he will withdraw from the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and the Spanish Championships in Ourense to concentrate on the outdoor season, with the Paris Olympics as a priority — however, that now depends on his appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“As I do not agree with the decision taken by the AIU, I will appeal to the competent authorities in order to compete during the process,” said Katir.
Katir set the national 1500m record in 2021 at 3:28.76 during the Diamond League’s meeting in Monaco. Katir holds the European records for both the 3000m short track in 7:24.68 from February 15 last year in Liévin, France. He also holds the 5000m European outdoor record from his July 2023 performance of 12:45.01.
During the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships, he earned a silver medal in the 5000m, one year after earning a 1500m bronze at the Eugene World Athletics Championships.
Raised in Spain since age 5, the Tokyo Olympian gained citizenship in 2019.
