On February 16, Athletics Illustrated Magazine reported that Moroccan-Spanish 5000 metre specialist Mohamed Katir was handed a provisional two-year suspension. He was handed the ban for missing three out-of-competition doping tests in 12 months.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has now suspended the athlete for four years for “tampering.” The AIU found the 26-year-old had falsified documents related to his Whereabouts.

“Katir,” a press release states, “was sanctioned under Rule 2.5 of the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). The rule relates to Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control by an Athlete or other Person. Following a charge brought by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on 12 June 2024. The four-year ban will run concurrently with the ongoing Whereabouts Failures sanction. This extends Katir’s ban from the sport until February 2028.”

Katir is in the Registered Testing Pool (RPT), which is designated by national anti-doping organizations. The organizations must designate a pool of athletes who are subject to the highest level of anti-doping rules

Katir – also a world 1,500m bronze medallist – was found to have falsified travel documents. Nnamely a travel itinerary, boarding pass and booking confirmation. This was allegedly an attempt to mislead investigators as they probed the veracity of his explanation for a Whereabouts Failure that occurred on Feb. 28 2023.

“There can be no doubt that: a) The Athlete put forward a false version of events and altered documents. b) He did so in order to persuade WA (World Athletics) that his Filing Failure on 28 February 2023 should not be treated as a Whereabouts Failure,” concluded the Tribunal in its judgement.

“In those circumstances, it is obvious that the Athlete committed an ADRV (Anti-Doping Rules Violation) by Tampering, or Attempted Tampering under Rule 2.5 ADR.”

However, the Disciplinary Tribunal denied the AIU’s request for Katir’s results to be disqualified from 9 March 2023. From the “date of deception” – on fairness grounds, because the Tampering had occurred “at the time of a first Whereabouts Failure. And the Athlete has not benefited from a competitive advantage which affected his results”.

AIU Head Brett Clothier said the ruling underscored the seriousness of tampering. 

“Gone are the days in athletics when explanations offered in anti-doping cases are just accepted at face value. Thanks to strong investment in investigations, since its inception in 2017, the AIU has prosecuted 25 Tampering cases,” stressed Clothier.

Was Katir gaming the system?

Apparently, Katir was home the third time that a DCO knocked on his door. It is alleged that his father, who answered the door, said that Katir was training at a track 30 minutes away, so was unavailable. It is further alleged that Katir went onto his profile in the online Whereabouts program and changed his availability time shortly after the DCO left. Fewer than the 30 minutes it would require him to make it home after his workout.

One trick is to load a cell phone with messages so that the mailbox becomes full. This was the DCO could not get a hold of the athlete. Then, once or twice, miss the scheduled testing time, but make it for the third. Doing so gives the athlete another round of potential out-of-competition tests. Microdosing can be used, so the athlete can plan when the performance-enhancing drugs are cleared from the system. Thus allowing the athlete to dope between out-of-competition tests and perhaps in-competition tests too.

“The vast majority of our elite athletes respect the strict rules and processes of the sport and they should take heart at the action being taken to ensure a level playing field.”

On 13 February 2024, Katir admitted to breaching Rule 2.4 ADR regarding Whereabouts Failures and accepted the imposed sanction of 2 years. But investigators further reviewed information relating to his explanation for the first of those Whereabouts Failures a year earlier on 28 February 2023. The review uncovered that Katir had submitted falsified travel documentation in support of his rejected explanation for the Whereabouts Failure. A Tampering charge was then brought by the AIU in addition to the Whereabouts Failures violation. 

Katir holds three national records. Two are in the 1500m, 3000m indoors or “short track,” events. He also holds the national and European record in the 5000m event. At the Monaco Diamond League meet in July 2023, he bettered Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s European record of 12:48.45 with his 12:45.01 performance.

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