© Copyright – 2020 – Athletics Illustrated
The Athletics Illustrated Person of the Week honour for the week of June 8, 2020, is awarded to Nigerian-Bahraini sprinter Salwa Eid Naser. Naser earned Person of the Week honours for the not very redeeming reason for missing four drug test opportunities in a 12-month period. Three missed tests warrant a suspension!
She said to the press: “I’ve never been a cheat. I will never be. I only missed three drug tests, which is normal. It happens. It can happen to anybody. I don’t want people to get confused in all this because I would never cheat.”
Her performance in Doha was a surprise and the third-fastest all time and the fastest since 1985. The two athletes still ahead of her are East German Marita Koch, in 1985, and the Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova, in 1983, both are considered highly suspicious.
“It happens. It can happen to anybody. I don’t want people to get confused in all this because I would never cheat.”
It’s not normal and she may be stripped of her gold medal and given a two-year suspension.
If so, Bahamian Shuanae Miller-Uibo may move up from silver (48.37), Shericka Jackson from Jamaica the bronze medallist would then move up to silver and fourth-place finisher Wadeline Jonathas from the USA at 49.60 could move into bronze.
Photo credit: World Athletics
About Person of the Week
The Athletics Illustrated Person of the Week recognition is an endeavour that aims to recognise noteworthy or newsworthy achievements, actions or events in the sport of athletics by individuals who are involved or have affected the sport in some way.
The weekly decision will be the discretion of Athletics Illustrated, however, input from readers is welcome.
At the end of each year, the Person of the Week honours will be reviewed and featured along with a Person of the Year recognition taken from the list of weekly honours.
If you feel someone should be recognised, please register, login, and provide the person’s name and reason.
